Smart Serve Checking Identification & Age Verification 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: At what apparent age should a server request identification from a patron?
- Anyone who looks under 19
- Anyone who looks under 25 (Correct answer)
- Anyone who looks under 30
- Only if the patron appears to be a teenager
Correct answer: Anyone who looks under 25
Best practice in Ontario is to ask for ID from anyone who appears to be under 25, even though the legal drinking age is 19. This provides a safety margin.
Question 2: Which of the following is an acceptable form of identification in Ontario?
- Student ID card
- Credit card with photo
- Ontario driver's licence or Canadian passport (Correct answer)
- Library card
Correct answer: Ontario driver's licence or Canadian passport
Acceptable IDs must be government-issued with a photo, date of birth, and signature. Ontario driver's licences, Canadian passports, BYID cards, and Canadian citizenship cards are accepted.
Question 3: A patron presents an ID that appears to have been tampered with. What should the server do?
- Accept it if the photo looks like the patron
- Refuse service and confiscate the ID
- Refuse service politely and suggest the patron obtain valid ID (Correct answer)
- Call the police immediately without speaking to the patron
Correct answer: Refuse service politely and suggest the patron obtain valid ID
The server should politely refuse service and explain that the ID cannot be accepted. Servers should not confiscate IDs as this could escalate the situation. Management should be notified.
Question 4: A group of young people arrives and only one has valid ID. Can the server serve alcohol to just that person?
- No — if others appear underage, the entire group should be questioned (Correct answer)
- Yes — only the person ordering needs ID
- Serve the entire group if one person is of age
- Refuse service to the entire group automatically
Correct answer: No — if others appear underage, the entire group should be questioned
Servers should exercise caution with groups. If other members appear underage, they should also be asked for ID to prevent the of-age person from sharing drinks with minors.
Question 5: What features should a server check when examining an Ontario driver's licence?
- Only the photo
- Photo match, date of birth, expiry date, and security features (hologram, UV features) (Correct answer)
- Just the name and address
- Only the barcode on the back
Correct answer: Photo match, date of birth, expiry date, and security features (hologram, UV features)
A thorough ID check includes: photo matches the patron, date of birth confirms legal age, licence hasn't expired, and security features (holograms, microprinting, UV elements) appear genuine.
Question 6: A patron claims they forgot their ID but insists they are of legal age. What should the server do?
- Believe them if they look old enough
- Refuse service — no valid ID means no alcohol service (Correct answer)
- Serve one drink as a courtesy
- Ask other patrons to vouch for their age
Correct answer: Refuse service — no valid ID means no alcohol service
Without valid ID, the server cannot verify age and must refuse alcohol service. No exceptions, regardless of how old the patron appears or what they claim.
Smart Serve Checking Identification & Age Verification 2
At what apparent age should a server request identification from a patron?