TABC Minors and Age Verification 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What penalty can a server face for selling alcohol to a minor in Texas?
- A written warning on first offense only
- Criminal charges including a Class A misdemeanor (Correct answer)
- Loss of their food handler card only
- A mandatory 30-minute ethics course
Correct answer: Criminal charges including a Class A misdemeanor
Selling alcohol to a minor in Texas is a criminal offense that can be charged as a Class A misdemeanor with fines and possible jail time.
Question 2: What is a 'sting operation' in the context of TABC enforcement?
- An undercover drug operation
- An undercover compliance check where a minor attempts to purchase alcohol (Correct answer)
- A financial audit of alcohol sales
- A secret menu item at licensed bars
Correct answer: An undercover compliance check where a minor attempts to purchase alcohol
TABC conducts compliance checks using underage decoys to test whether establishments properly refuse alcohol sales to minors.
Question 3: A minor is in a bar with their parents who are of legal age. Can the server sell alcohol to the minor?
- Yes, if parents give verbal consent
- Yes, if a parent physically hands the minor the drink
- No, in most establishments alcohol cannot be served to minors regardless of parental presence (Correct answer)
- Yes, with a written waiver from the parents
Correct answer: No, in most establishments alcohol cannot be served to minors regardless of parental presence
Most Texas alcohol licenses prohibit service to minors even with parental presence; only certain on-premise licenses with specific conditions may allow it in limited circumstances.
Question 4: What does TABC recommend regarding when to card customers?
- Only card customers who look under 18
- Card anyone who appears under 25 or 30 as a general policy (Correct answer)
- Only card new customers, not regulars
- Card customers only when requested by management
Correct answer: Card anyone who appears under 25 or 30 as a general policy
TABC recommends establishments adopt a policy of carding anyone who appears under 25 or 30 to reduce the risk of serving minors.
Question 5: A customer's ID is expired but shows they are over 21. Should a server accept it?
- Yes, if the photo matches and the birth date shows they are 21+
- No, expired IDs are not valid for age verification (Correct answer)
- Yes, if the expiration is within 6 months
- It depends on the manager's discretion each time
Correct answer: No, expired IDs are not valid for age verification
An expired ID is not a valid form of identification for alcohol service under TABC guidelines; a current, valid ID is required.
Question 6: What should a server do when a customer attempting to buy alcohol has no ID?
- Serve them if they look old enough
- Refuse service until valid ID is presented (Correct answer)
- Ask a coworker to assess the customer's age
- Serve one drink and ask for ID before the second
Correct answer: Refuse service until valid ID is presented
Without valid ID, a server cannot verify the customer's age and must refuse alcohol service.
TABC Minors and Age Verification 2
What penalty can a server face for selling alcohol to a minor in Texas?