Smart Serve Ontario Age Verification and Minors 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: If a customer's ID shows they were born exactly 18 years and 11 months ago, what should you do?
- Serve them since they are almost 19
- Refuse service because they have not yet turned 19 (Correct answer)
- Request a second piece of ID to confirm
- Use your judgment based on their appearance
Correct answer: Refuse service because they have not yet turned 19
Anyone who has not yet reached their 19th birthday must be refused service, as the legal drinking age is 19 with no exceptions for customers who are nearly of age.
Question 2: A customer refuses to show ID when asked. What should you do?
- Serve them if they appear to be of legal age
- Ask a coworker to make the decision
- Refuse service to the customer (Correct answer)
- Offer them a non-alcoholic drink instead
Correct answer: Refuse service to the customer
If a customer refuses to provide ID, you must refuse service because you cannot confirm they meet the minimum legal age requirement.
Question 3: Which of the following is an acceptable piece of ID for age verification in Ontario?
- Provincial health card
- College student union card
- Secure Certificate of Indian Status (Correct answer)
- Social Insurance Number card
Correct answer: Secure Certificate of Indian Status
The Secure Certificate of Indian Status is a valid federally-issued photo ID that is accepted for age verification in Ontario licensed establishments.
Question 4: What are the two most important things to check when examining a customer's photo ID?
- Whether the ID was renewed within the past year
- That the expiry date has not passed and the photo matches the customer (Correct answer)
- That the ID includes the customer's phone number
- That the ID was specifically issued in Ontario
Correct answer: That the expiry date has not passed and the photo matches the customer
You must confirm the document has not expired and that the photo matches the person presenting it to ensure the ID is both valid and belongs to that individual.
Question 5: Are you permitted to ask for ID from a customer who is clearly well over 19 years of age?
- No, it is discriminatory to ask older customers for ID
- Yes, servers are always permitted to request ID from any customer (Correct answer)
- Only if the manager provides specific authorization
- Only if your establishment has a written ID-check policy posted
Correct answer: Yes, servers are always permitted to request ID from any customer
Servers are always permitted to request ID from any customer as a precautionary measure, and doing so can protect both the server and the establishment.
Question 6: What could happen to a server who sells liquor to a minor in Ontario?
- Only the establishment owner faces consequences, not the server personally
- The server may face personal fines and the establishment may lose its liquor licence (Correct answer)
- Only a verbal warning is issued for a first offence with no record
- The server is fully protected from liability if the minor presented fake ID
Correct answer: The server may face personal fines and the establishment may lose its liquor licence
Individual servers can be personally fined for selling to minors, and the establishment may also face licence suspension or revocation as a result.
Question 7: How many pieces of ID can a server require from a customer who appears to be underage?
- Only one piece is ever legally required
- As many pieces as are reasonably needed to verify age (Correct answer)
- A maximum of two pieces only
- Three pieces, including at least one with a signature
Correct answer: As many pieces as are reasonably needed to verify age
Servers may request as many pieces of ID as needed to satisfy themselves of a customer's age, and there is no legal limit on the number of pieces that may be requested.
Smart Serve Ontario Age Verification and Minors 2
If a customer's ID shows they were born exactly 18 years and 11 months ago, what should you do?