“My main thought on I.D. checks at stores is a simple one. I am 55 and when buying smokes or booze they ask for I.D. I asked one clerk if they ever felt like a complete and total tool for enforcing the company policy when only a total idiot would ever think that I was under 21. I think that most of them do indeed feel this way.”
Of course I feel that way. But I’m gonna do it anyway. The *reason*, which was mentioned in the article but glossed over, is posted on our employee bulliten board in the form of a letter from “the state” informing my employer of the dates and times they tried to entrap us. In my employer’s case, it averages about 4 times per year. One slip up and I’ve lost my job and my employer is slapped with a huge fine.
Evidently, the specific age and manner of the verification varies from state to state. I merely have to check the birthdate and picture on the photo license if the customer does not appear to be 27.
If it’s a sting, you can simply ask “are you 21 or older” and they have to tell you truthfully. Verifying the ID visually is acceptable unless it’s an obvious fake. There is absolutely no need to scan someone’s ID.
Technically I suppose any sort of photo I.D. will do. Have to test that one day. Of course if they refuse I will just leave and go elsewhere....and if i have a full cart at the time they can have the fun of putting everything back. But reading the article I can understand how a lot of people dislike the intrusion. One way to stymie them at the supermarket is to give them a phony phone number. They will take that instead of the store card they issue. Half the time when I have given them my number they call me by a name I never heard of anyway. Fighting “the machine” can be amusing at times.