This ever happen to you?

[billhammond]

Last night Elderdottir (who turns 25 in two months) and I stopped by the neighborhood market for some food items and a bottle of wine. As we were checking out, the dude asks DOTTIR if she has ID on her (she didn't) -- even though I was the one buying the wine.

I don't know if this was NC or Greensboro law or what, but I really resented the fact that because this guy didn't recognize me, the assumption was that I was buying alcohol for a possible minor.

Finally, a checkout gal adjacent to our spot vouched for knowing that Dottir was not a minor and I was allowed to make the purchase.

Seemed totally wrong to me.

[xyrn]

The cops do spot checks at all the liquor stores in Northfield.
They send in a minor-looking person, or, like your case, an obvious adult with a questionably adult person.

Not only does the clerk stand to lose their job...

Penalties

Most states punish the sale of alcohol to minors as a misdemeanor. However, state laws on alcohol sales to minors differ significantly, and the potential penalties involved can be very different between one state and another. Anyone convicted of selling or providing alcohol to a minor usually faces a range of penalties.


Jail. Misdemeanor offenses are defined as those that have a potential penalty of up to one year in a local jail or state prison. Providing alcohol to an underage person may result in a jail sentence of up to a year, a much lighter sentence, or no jail at all. The circumstances of the case and state law will determine what sentences are appropriate.

Fines. Fines are a common penalty for anyone convicted of selling alcohol to a minor. The amount of the fine varies broadly, but can be as much as several thousand dollars per violation.

Probation. In lieu of, or in addition to, a jail sentence, a court may impose a probation sentence for a conviction of selling alcohol to a minor. Probation terms typically last six to 12 months, though they can be longer. Someone on probation must usually regularly report to a probation officer and meet other specific requirements as imposed by the court. Failing to comply with any requirement may result in a court ordering the convicted person to jail.

Liquor license revocation. Establishments and organizations who sell or provide alcohol must have a state liquor license. When licensed organizations sell alcohol to minors, either intentionally or unintentionally, they may lose their liquor license. They may also be subject to other penalties, such as fines. However, individual state regulations differ significantly about what penalties licensed organizations can face if they sell alcohol to minors, especially if they do so unintentionally.

www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/criminal-defense/criminal-offense/selling-alcohol-minors-and-law.htm

Many places card EVERYONE that steps up, like airport bars, and most others card anyone in a group that appears younger than 45.

[billhammond]

Oct 29, 2014 18:10:32 GMT -5 xyrn said:

The cops do spot checks at all the liquor stores in Northfield.
They send in a minor-looking person, or, like your case, an obvious adult with a questionably adult person.

Not only does the clerk stand to lose their job...

Penalties

Most states punish the sale of alcohol to minors as a misdemeanor. However, state laws on alcohol sales to minors differ significantly, and the potential penalties involved can be very different between one state and another. Anyone convicted of selling or providing alcohol to a minor usually faces a range of penalties.


Jail. Misdemeanor offenses are defined as those that have a potential penalty of up to one year in a local jail or state prison. Providing alcohol to an underage person may result in a jail sentence of up to a year, a much lighter sentence, or no jail at all. The circumstances of the case and state law will determine what sentences are appropriate.

Fines. Fines are a common penalty for anyone convicted of selling alcohol to a minor. The amount of the fine varies broadly, but can be as much as several thousand dollars per violation.

Probation. In lieu of, or in addition to, a jail sentence, a court may impose a probation sentence for a conviction of selling alcohol to a minor. Probation terms typically last six to 12 months, though they can be longer. Someone on probation must usually regularly report to a probation officer and meet other specific requirements as imposed by the court. Failing to comply with any requirement may result in a court ordering the convicted person to jail.

Liquor license revocation. Establishments and organizations who sell or provide alcohol must have a state liquor license. When licensed organizations sell alcohol to minors, either intentionally or unintentionally, they may lose their liquor license. They may also be subject to other penalties, such as fines. However, individual state regulations differ significantly about what penalties licensed organizations can face if they sell alcohol to minors, especially if they do so unintentionally.

www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/criminal-defense/criminal-offense/selling-alcohol-minors-and-law.htm

Many places card EVERYONE that steps up, like airport bars, and most others card anyone in a group that appears younger than 45.

I don't mind being carded, but I sure don't get why SHE should be. If I were buying booze for a minor, why would the minor come with me?? Makes no sense.

[mccoyblues]

The store clerk did exactly what they were trained to do and exactly what the law expects them to do. They carded everyone in the group who was making the purchase.

[billhammond]

Oct 29, 2014 18:29:45 GMT -5 mccoyblues said:

The store clerk did exactly what they were trained to do and exactly what the law expects them to do. They carded everyone in the group who was making the purchase.

So at what point do you ask a kid who is with his or her mom or dad for ID? If the kid is 8, or 12, or 15, or 18, or what? How does the clerk know that Mom or Dad aren't buying booze for their preschooler?

I think it's stupid, and it has never happened to me before, anywhere.

[mccoyblues]

But you didn't walk in with an 8, 12, 15 year old. An older man and a young woman walked in, they don't know you and they don't know she is your daughter. It's not their job to know. Their job requires them to ID and they did their job.

[j]

never happened to me

[Deleted]

Maybe stick to weed and moonshine.

[Doug]

I vote with Bill.  But understand if it's the state law that the clerk has to follow.  I think this whole card anyone who looks under 40 (AZ) 35 (FL) or 45 (in post) is discrimination.  Some states used to card every one (NM) 25 yrs ago I don't know if they still do.  Seems to me that either you have to card everyone or no one.  And who's to say that clerk A thought that buyer B looked 40 are clerks sent to school to learn to guess age.  

[billhammond]

Oct 29, 2014 20:10:09 GMT -5 Doug said:

I vote with Bill.  But understand if it's the state law that the clerk has to follow.  I think this whole card anyone who looks under 40 (AZ) 35 (FL) or 45 (in post) is discrimination.  Some states used to card every one (NM) 25 yrs ago I don't know if they still do.  Seems to me that either you have to card everyone or no one.  And who's to say that clerk A thought that buyer B looked 40 are clerks sent to school to learn to guess age.  

They did not card me, the buyer, they carded her, a non-buyer who happened to be with me. And we were not in a liquor store, where if she walked in alone she would be subject to age requirements. She could legally walk in there at any age and buy any non-alcohol item. She was in a grocery store that also sold wine, tagging along with me. Dad bought the groceries, Dad bought the wine. She is standing with me and gets carded. How is that reasonable?

[Deleted]

"Reasonable" doesn't happen sometimes.

[Cosmic Wonder]

It's not reasonable, it's stupid. And I should know, I, dealt with a lot of stupid today.

Mike

[aquaduct]

I'm still pissed that I get carded for buying Zyrtec D. Talk about asinine.

[Village Idiot]

Stupid, yes. But not stupid that the kid wants to keep his job. He's just following the rules he was given. I wouldn't worry about it.

[Tamarack]

It is customary to card everyone in a youthful looking group, either at a store or in a bar/restaurant, but rather odd to card a father/daughter combination -- unreasonable application of a reasonable practice.

A local store chain has a policy of carding everyone who looks like they are under 40. I sometimes get carded and I am flattered/bemused that they think I look like I am under 40.

[Deleted]

I've been with my wife (we are both in our 40s, I have lotsa grey hair, she has none) at a liquor store numerous times. If I'm buying, I rarely get carded...but she does. Happens a lot to us in the Twin Cities, from the municipal stores in Richfield and Edina (where all liquor stores are city owned), to privately owned shops like Haskells, Surdyks, and the like. Never the reverse - her buying, and me being carded - but probably 8 out of 10 times, if it's my wallet out, she's the one they ask for i.d.

Surprised it hasn't happened to you before, Bill.

[RickW]

I don't think it happens in Canada. Heck, my kids can come into the liquor store with me. They can't buy anything, but they can be there. It's a weird law. I think you're absolutely right - she's not doing anything wrong. If you stop off with your six year old on the way home from picking her up from dance class, as they going to refuse to sell you booze, because you might be buying it for her?

One of the stupidest laws I've ever heard of. But if the clerk has to do it, I would understand, from their point of view.

[fauxmaha]

It never happens to me, but then I always tell the minor I am buying for to wait outside.

[Deleted]

I had to show my passport in bars several times, at age 47 as proof of age in the states, which was weird but just one of those silly procedures that happen. I did not have to do so to buy a quart of moonshine in a dry county. Erm....I'm not sure that comment passes the aquaduct "what's that go to do with anything" test.

[coachdoc]

My favorite carding story. I was at Fenway in the beer line. A guy in his 90's was ahead of me. They asked him for a card. Didn't have one. We jeered then bought him a beer. I betcha he does that all the time to get free beers.