Theo Nash
In the United States, the legal drinking age is 21 years old. In most states, allowing an underage person to be in a home where alcohol is available and accessible is considered supplying alcohol to minors. This means that adults do not need to be physically present or provide the alcohol to be charged. To prevent illegal sales to minors, staff must be adequately trained to check IDs and identify suspected false or counterfeit IDs. While the requirement to card everyone in a group is not a state law in some states, carding everyone is allowed if a second-party sale is suspected or if the payment is split. Accepted forms of identification include state IDs, driver's licenses, passports, and military IDs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Legal drinking age | 21 |
| Bona fide identification | One card issued by a U.S. government agency |
| Acceptable forms of ID | U.S. Military ID, U.S. and foreign passports, U.S. Government Immigrant ID card |
| ID checking procedure | Check for alterations, typeface, date of birth, photograph |
| Suspecting a fake ID | Ask the ID holder questions about their personal information |
| Refusing service | You are not required to sell or serve alcohol to anyone |
| Scanning IDs | Some stores scan IDs of customers who appear to be close to/under the required age |
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What You'll Learn
In the US, the legal drinking age is 21
The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 established 21 as the minimum legal drinking age across all states. Before this, the minimum legal drinking age varied by state. As of 1985, all 50 states in the US had officially adopted a minimum drinking age of 21. However, the law does not apply to Puerto Rico, Guam, or the US Virgin Islands, where the legal drinking age is 18.
There are certain circumstances in some states where parents, guardians, or spouses can offer or supply alcohol to individuals under the age of 21. Additionally, federal law is concerned with purchase and public possession, not private consumption, and contains several exceptions. For example, in some states, drinking in a private residence is allowed, and there are religious, medical, employment, and private club or establishment possession exceptions.
Despite the legal drinking age, underage drinking remains prevalent in the US, with individuals aged 12-20 consuming 11% of all alcohol consumed in the country. To enforce the legal drinking age, businesses are required to adequately train their staff on policies and laws regarding the sale of alcohol, including how to identify and handle suspected false or counterfeit IDs.
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Staff must be trained to recognise fake IDs
Staff training is essential to prevent the sale of alcohol to minors and to protect your business from the challenges posed by fake IDs. In the United States, the legal drinking age is 21, and staff must be able to recognise fake IDs to avoid hefty fines and the loss of a liquor license.
Training should cover the policies and laws regarding the sale of alcohol and how to deal with customers presenting suspected false IDs. Staff should be vigilant at all times, even during busy periods, and understand the legal requirement to check IDs. They should also be aware of the consequences of failing to uphold standards, including the potential loss of a license and felony charges.
Staff should be trained to look for specific security features on IDs, such as holograms, microprinting, watermarks, and laser-engraved tactile dates of birth. They should know their state's specific hologram image and be able to spot cheap laminate, alterations to security features, and signs of tampering, such as rough surfaces, glue lines, or misaligned features. IDs with spelling errors, different font sizes, or an altered date of birth should be rejected.
Staff can also observe body language for signs of nervousness, such as fidgeting or sweating, and ask the ID holder questions to verify their identity. They can request the ID holder to state their date of birth, driver's license/ID number, or personal information on the card. If the ID holder responds with a number instead of the name of the month, they may be lying.
Businesses can also invest in ID barcode scanners or smartphone apps to assist in verifying IDs. Additionally, staff can undergo certification programs like ServSafe Alcohol and Training for Intervention Procedures (TIPS) to enhance their knowledge and skills in responsible alcohol service and fake ID detection.
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Bona fide IDs are issued by US government agencies
In the United States, the legal drinking age is 21 years old. It is a crime to supply alcohol to a minor, even when there is no purchase involved. To prevent the illegal sale of alcohol to minors, staff must be adequately trained on the policies and laws regarding the sale of alcohol and how to deal with suspected false or counterfeit IDs. They should also be aware of their right to refuse service to anyone unable to produce adequate evidence of their age.
Bona fide IDs are legally acceptable forms of identification. In the US, these include IDs issued by government agencies at the federal, state, county, or city level. Examples of acceptable IDs issued by US government agencies include:
- Military identification: US military identification without a physical description is acceptable.
- Passports: Both US and foreign passports with a photograph but without a physical description are acceptable.
- Government Immigrant identification card: This is a valid form of identification issued by the US government.
- Driver's license: A driver's license issued by a state or outlying possession of the US is acceptable, provided it contains a photograph or specific identifying information such as name, date of birth, sex, height, eye colour, and address.
- ID card: An ID card issued by a federal, state, or local government agency or entity, provided it contains a photograph or identifying information such as name, date of birth, sex, height, eye colour, and address. Examples include federal government employee personal identity verification (PIV) or common access cards (CAC), and state or local government employee ID cards.
- Agency ID badge: Issued by federal, state, or local government agencies or entities with a photo.
It is important to note that businesses may have stricter policies than the law requires. For example, a business may only accept California driver's licenses or require anyone purchasing alcohol to present identification, regardless of their apparent age. Additionally, some states have exceptions that allow individuals under 21 to procure or use alcohol, such as when offered by parents, guardians, or spouses.
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Minors altering their appearance may still be identified
In the United States, the legal drinking age is 21 years old. Minors may alter their appearance to seem older and buy alcohol. Puberty and adolescence can cause minors to become more self-conscious about their appearance, and they may feel pressured to look a certain way. This can lead to an increased preoccupation with managing one's looks. However, staff trained in identifying minors can prevent the sale of alcohol to underage individuals.
To start, staff should carefully examine the identification card. They should look for any alterations, such as changes in typeface or spelling errors, which may indicate a counterfeit ID. They should also pay attention to the cardholder's date of birth and perform the necessary calculations to ensure the person is of legal drinking age. If there are any doubts, the sale should be refused.
Additionally, staff can ask the cardholder questions to verify their identity. They can request the cardholder to state their ID number, confirm personal information, or provide their birth month. Nervousness or incorrect answers may indicate a fake ID. If the ID does not pass the inspection or questioning, the sale can be refused, and the ID can be seized depending on the company's policy.
While minors may change their hairstyle, eye makeup, or grow facial hair to appear older, staff can focus on the person's facial features, such as the shape of their nose, chin, ears, and eyes, which are less likely to be altered. Adequate staff training on policies and laws regarding alcohol sales is crucial to prevent illegal sales to minors effectively.
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Scanning IDs can help verify a customer's age
In the United States, the legal drinking age is 21 years old. While there are some exceptions in certain states, it is a crime to supply an underage person with alcohol. As such, it is important to verify a customer's age before selling them alcohol.
Scanning IDs is an effective way to verify a customer's age and can help to prevent the sale of alcohol to minors. ID scanners can instantly verify a person's age and catch fake IDs. For example, the Unitech EA660 handheld ID scanner can detect 2D barcode anomalies, helping to identify fake IDs. ID scanning software captures and processes information from identity documents, performing full authentication to ensure the ID is not fraudulent.
ID scanning can also help to streamline transactions and improve customer service by making processes more efficient. It can instantly verify an ID's expiration date and automatically input information from IDs, reducing wait times and preventing incorrect data entry.
Additionally, ID scanners can help to deter fraudsters and criminals. The presence of an ID scanner may discourage individuals from attempting to use fake IDs. ID scanning software can also create detailed visit histories, logging every ID that is scanned and making search and recall easy and efficient.
However, it is important to be aware of potential risks when scanning IDs. Many customers fear privacy breaches when they offer their ID for scanning. As such, it is essential to build trust with customers and use a reputable age verification platform that allows for data customization to only collect necessary information.
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Frequently asked questions
The legal drinking age in the United States is 21 years old, so anyone appearing to be under 21 should be carded.
In most states, even allowing an underage person to be in a home where alcohol is available and not blocking access to the alcohol is defined as supplying alcohol to minors. However, the laws are typically not enforced in situations where the person did not know that alcohol was available to minors.
Ask the ID holder questions such as their date of birth or ID number. If they seem nervous or don't know the answers, you probably have a fake ID. You are not required to sell or serve alcohol to anyone and have the right to refuse service to anyone who cannot produce adequate evidence of their age.
