RSA Age Verification & ID Checking Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A customer presents a valid-looking ID but their physical appearance strongly suggests they are much younger than the stated age. What should you do?
- Accept the ID if it passes all security checks
- Refuse service based solely on appearance
- Request a secondary form of ID and use your best judgment (Correct answer)
- Call the police immediately
Correct answer: Request a secondary form of ID and use your best judgment
When there is a significant discrepancy between the ID and the person's appearance, requesting a secondary ID is a responsible step before making a service decision.
Question 2: What does a 'bent, laminated, or heavily worn' ID typically signal to a responsible server?
- The customer is a long-time cardholder and probably of age
- The ID may have been tampered with or is otherwise unreliable (Correct answer)
- The ID is from an older era and should be automatically trusted
- Nothing significant — wear and tear is normal
Correct answer: The ID may have been tampered with or is otherwise unreliable
Physical damage or abnormal wear can indicate tampering or a fake ID, and warrants closer inspection or refusal if authenticity cannot be confirmed.
Question 3: In most US states, which of the following IDs issued by a foreign government IS generally accepted for age verification?
- A foreign national ID card with no English text
- A valid foreign passport with a photo and date of birth (Correct answer)
- A foreign driver's license with no expiration date shown
- A foreign student ID from a university abroad
Correct answer: A valid foreign passport with a photo and date of birth
A valid foreign passport is internationally recognized, contains a photo and birth date, and is generally accepted as proof of age in the US.
Question 4: A customer becomes aggressive when asked for their ID. What is the best course of action?
- Serve them to avoid a confrontation
- Remain calm, explain it is policy, and refuse service if they will not comply (Correct answer)
- Call the police immediately
- Ask another staff member to serve them without checking ID
Correct answer: Remain calm, explain it is policy, and refuse service if they will not comply
Remaining calm and enforcing the policy protects you legally; if a customer refuses to show ID, you must refuse service regardless of their reaction.
Question 5: What information is LEAST useful when verifying an ID's authenticity?
- The ID's expiration date
- The security hologram
- The customer's hair color as listed on the ID (Correct answer)
- The raised or UV printing on the ID
Correct answer: The customer's hair color as listed on the ID
Hair color can change easily and is not a reliable security feature; holograms, expiration dates, and UV/raised printing are harder to forge.
Question 6: An off-duty police officer you recognize asks you to serve their teenage child 'just this once.' What should you do?
- Serve the minor since the officer is a trusted authority figure
- Refuse service — no exception exists for minors regardless of who is asking (Correct answer)
- Ask a manager to approve the exception
- Serve the minor only if the officer signs a consent form
Correct answer: Refuse service — no exception exists for minors regardless of who is asking
No authority figure or parental consent overrides your legal obligation not to serve alcohol to a minor in a licensed establishment.
Question 7: When should you record a refusal of service in an incident log?
- Only when the customer threatens you
- Only when instructed by a manager
- Every time you refuse service to protect yourself and the establishment legally (Correct answer)
- Only when the customer is clearly intoxicated
Correct answer: Every time you refuse service to protect yourself and the establishment legally
Documenting every refusal creates a record that demonstrates due diligence, which can protect the server and establishment in legal proceedings.
RSA Age Verification & ID Checking Procedures 3
A customer presents a valid-looking ID but their physical appearance strongly suggests they are much younger than the stated age.
What should you do?