When we think about transgender people being hassled about their ID, we usually think about airports. But one British man found himself unable to get his nicotine fix.

Charlie Diesel, 19, began identifying as male two years ago. He recently went to Tesco, a chain supermarket in the UK, to buy tobacco, and was asked to present identification. (The minimum smoking age in the UK is 18.)

Wen Diesel presented his passport, though, the cashier refused to accept it because his gender was listed as "female."

"I was furious so I went over to my friend and told him what happened,’ Diesel told The Sun.

"In this day and age, when the transgender community are not hiding themselves, people just cannot be allowed to discriminate."

Diesel says he's never had an issue with his ID before, not when buying tobacco or even when he's crossed the border.

He went to the store's customer service desk, where the manager on duty agreed the passport was legitimate.

"But she refused to speak to the staff member in front of me and just kept repeating ‘this is not discrimination,'" he recalled. "But it clearly was."

He added, "It occurred to me this may be happening to lots of people so I had to speak out."

A spokesman for Tesco confirmed Diesel was not served as he "appeared different" from his photo ID. "Everyone is welcome at Tesco and it is never our intention to cause any offense."

The supermarket invited him back to discuss the situation and offered him a £20 gift voucher, which Diesel refused on principle.