In those situations I would probably look them in the eye and say ‘why do you think it is acceptable to speak to me in that way’? And then shut up and wait… a long time… to make them uncomfortable. Whatever excuse they splutter, my response would be... ‘I see’… and depending on where you actually want to go, just walk away, hopefully leaving them a bit embarrassed.

The problem with people behaving like that, is that, especially in ‘polite Britain’, people are not keen to challenge unacceptable behaviour.