TABC Basic TABC 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Can a parent legally provide alcohol to their own minor child in Texas?
- Never under any circumstances
- Yes, if the parent is present and visibly providing it (Correct answer)
- Only if the child is 18
- Only in a licensed bar
Correct answer: Yes, if the parent is present and visibly providing it
Texas allows a minor to be furnished alcohol by their own adult parent, guardian, or spouse who is visibly present.
Question 2: What should a seller do if they suspect an ID is fake or altered?
- Sell anyway to avoid conflict
- Refuse the sale and may confiscate the ID per policy (Correct answer)
- Call the customer's parents
- Accept it if the photo looks close
Correct answer: Refuse the sale and may confiscate the ID per policy
A seller should refuse the sale when an ID appears fraudulent and follow store policy on handling it.
Question 3: Under the Texas 'safe harbor' provision, an employer may avoid liability if the employee was properly trained and:
- Sold alcohol to a minor knowingly
- Followed the law and required training when the violation occurred (Correct answer)
- Worked over 40 hours
- Was a manager
Correct answer: Followed the law and required training when the violation occurred
Safe harbor can protect an employer whose seller was TABC-certified and acting within policy.
Question 4: A group of four adults comes in and one is clearly under 21 with no ID. What is the safest action?
- Serve everyone since most are of age
- Refuse alcohol service to the person without valid ID (Correct answer)
- Serve only soft drinks to everyone
- Ask another adult to vouch for them
Correct answer: Refuse alcohol service to the person without valid ID
Anyone consuming alcohol must show valid proof of age; the one without ID cannot be served alcohol.
Question 5: What is 'third-party sale' (also called a proxy or 'straw' purchase)?
- Selling alcohol online
- An adult buying alcohol to give to a minor (Correct answer)
- Selling to a wholesaler
- A buy-one-get-one deal
Correct answer: An adult buying alcohol to give to a minor
A third-party or straw purchase is when someone of legal age buys alcohol to furnish it to a minor, which is illegal.
Question 6: Which factor does NOT affect how quickly alcohol impairs a person?
- Body weight
- Rate of consumption
- The color of the drink (Correct answer)
- Whether they have eaten food
Correct answer: The color of the drink
Drink color has no effect on impairment; weight, consumption rate, and food intake do.
Question 7: If a minor uses a fake ID to buy alcohol, who can still be held responsible?
- Only the minor
- Both the minor and, if negligent, the seller (Correct answer)
- Only the manufacturer
- No one
Correct answer: Both the minor and, if negligent, the seller
The minor is liable, and the seller can also be penalized if they failed to properly check the ID.
TABC Basic TABC 3
Can a parent legally provide alcohol to their own minor child in Texas?