The report, Never too Late to Learn, says the drop in applications is evidence that higher undergraduate tuition fees may act as a deterrent to prospective mature students who tend to be debt averse.

BBC: Higher fees may deter mature students, a study warns

Generally I find that customer service standards in restaurants and hotels is far better than in shops (although small independant shops tend to be much better than supermarkets and large chains), and that the more mature staff tend to give better service than their younger colleagues.

BBC: Devon - Have your say: are you being served?

And, interestingly enough, the authors pointed to other research showing that baby-faced men actually tend to be more intelligent than their more mature-looking counterparts.

FORBES: How Your Looks Affect Your Chances Of Nabbing The Corner Office