Am I doing it right? I’m working at a company for a year, and most staff are new. They ask for permission to do things, and I had to talk to them. Am I decreasing my value or being sensible?

So they’re pretty much new staff.
I’m the most experienced one apart from the manager.

I work as a barista and cashier and we’re all basically in the same position.

They will ask me permission to do things though.
Like:

Can I smoke a cigarette?
Can I do this and that?

And at some point two of them were together and I said:

“Guys, please, you don’t have to ask me anything, I’m literally in the same position you guys are, I’m not a supervisor nor anything. If you want to ask me that is okay, but if you need someone to allow you to do something, I’m not that person, I’ll always say yes, because I’ve no right to tell y what to do or not”

I mean, I was friendly and everything.

If I was a supervisor I’d act different.

My manager told me I’m the oldest in the company, hence, I should be more “demanding” but I don’t agree.

I hate it when people tell me to do things, if they’re literally being paid to do the same things and are in the same position.
Come on, do that yourself or ask a manager to ask me that.

However, if you ask me politely I’ll never deny helping you. I’ll always be prompt to be there.

So in the same way I don’t do that to people, no matter how many years I’m in the company, I’ll treat them the same.

Again, I know that things change if you’re a manager or supervisor.

But again, I’d always ask politely if someone could do this or that.
Never demand.

Does my train of thought make sense?