ABST ID Verification & Age Compliance — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which forms of identification are generally accepted as valid proof of age for alcohol purchase in the US?
- Government-issued photo ID: driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID (Correct answer)
- Student ID cards from any university
- Birth certificates without a photo
- Employee badges with date of birth
Correct answer: Government-issued photo ID: driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID
Valid IDs must be government-issued, contain a photo, date of birth, physical description, and be unexpired. Acceptable forms include driver's licenses, state-issued ID cards, US passports, and US military IDs.
Question 2: What security features should a server check when examining an ID?
- Holographic overlays, microprinting, UV features, proper formatting, and a photo that matches the person presenting it (Correct answer)
- Only the date of birth
- Only whether the ID is laminated
- Only the state or country of issue
Correct answer: Holographic overlays, microprinting, UV features, proper formatting, and a photo that matches the person presenting it
Servers should verify multiple security features including holographic overlays, raised lettering, microprinting, UV-reactive elements, proper state formatting, and critically, whether the photo matches the person presenting the ID.
Question 3: What should a server do if an ID appears to be altered or fake?
- Politely decline to serve alcohol, do not confiscate the ID (unless local law allows), and notify a manager (Correct answer)
- Confiscate the ID and call the police immediately in all cases
- Serve the person but monitor their consumption closely
- Accept the ID to avoid confrontation
Correct answer: Politely decline to serve alcohol, do not confiscate the ID (unless local law allows), and notify a manager
Servers should refuse service when an ID appears fraudulent. Whether to confiscate the ID depends on local laws and establishment policy. Management should always be notified, and in some jurisdictions, law enforcement.
Question 4: How can servers identify a 'borrowed' ID (a real ID belonging to someone else)?
- Compare the photo, physical description (height, weight, eye color), and signature to the person presenting it (Correct answer)
- Only check if the ID is expired
- Ask the person to recite their address
- Check if the ID is from the same state
Correct answer: Compare the photo, physical description (height, weight, eye color), and signature to the person presenting it
Borrowed IDs are real documents, so security features will be genuine. Detection requires carefully comparing the photo, height, weight, eye color, and other descriptors to the person, and possibly asking questions about the information.
Question 5: What is the legal consequence for a minor who uses a fake ID to purchase alcohol?
- Criminal charges that may include fines, community service, and possible license suspension, varying by state (Correct answer)
- No legal consequences for the minor
- Only the server faces legal consequences
- A mandatory one-year jail sentence in all states
Correct answer: Criminal charges that may include fines, community service, and possible license suspension, varying by state
Minors who use fake or borrowed IDs face state-specific penalties that may include misdemeanor charges, fines, community service, driver's license suspension, and mandatory alcohol education programs.
Question 6: At what point in the transaction should a server check a patron's ID?
- Before serving or selling any alcoholic beverage (Correct answer)
- After the patron has finished their first drink
- Only when the patron pays the bill
- Only if another patron questions their age
Correct answer: Before serving or selling any alcoholic beverage
ID verification must occur before any alcohol is served. Checking after service has begun means the establishment has already potentially committed a violation if the patron is underage.
ABST ID Verification & Age Compliance
Which forms of identification are generally accepted as valid proof of age for alcohol purchase in the US?