TAM Card ID Verification Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the minimum legal drinking age in Nevada?
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 21
The minimum legal drinking age in Nevada and all US states is 21, as established by the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984.
The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 requires all states to set 21 as the minimum age for purchasing and publicly consuming alcohol. Nevada complies with this federal law under NRS 202.020, which makes it illegal to sell, serve, or furnish alcohol to anyone under 21. TAM-certified servers must verify age for anyone who appears to be under 30 (some establishments set this at 35 or 40). Failure to check ID and serving a minor can result in criminal charges, fines up to $1,000, and loss of the establishment's liquor license.
Question 2: Which of the following is considered a valid form of identification for alcohol purchase in Nevada?
- Student ID card
- State-issued driver's license or ID card (Correct answer)
- Credit card
- Social media profile
Correct answer: State-issued driver's license or ID card
Only government-issued photo IDs such as a driver's license, state ID card, military ID, or passport are accepted for age verification in Nevada.
Nevada law requires that acceptable identification for alcohol purchase must be a valid, government-issued photo identification showing the holder's date of birth. Acceptable forms include: a US or foreign driver's license, a state-issued identification card, a US military ID, a US or foreign passport, and a tribal identification card. Student IDs, credit cards, membership cards, and social media profiles are never acceptable. TAM training emphasizes that if a patron cannot produce valid photo ID, service must be refused regardless of how old they appear.
Question 3: What should a server check first when examining a patron's ID?
- The patron's address
- The photo to ensure it matches the person presenting it (Correct answer)
- The barcode on the back
- The ID number
Correct answer: The photo to ensure it matches the person presenting it
The first step in ID verification is confirming that the photo on the ID matches the person presenting it.
TAM training teaches a systematic approach to ID verification: first compare the photo to the person standing in front of you, noting facial features, eye color, and general appearance. After photo verification, check the date of birth to confirm the person is 21 or older, then examine the expiration date to ensure the ID is current, and finally inspect the ID for signs of tampering or forgery. Starting with the photo comparison is essential because it catches the most common form of fraud: someone using another person's valid ID. If the photo does not match, the remaining checks are irrelevant.
Question 4: How should a server calculate whether a patron is 21 years old from their date of birth?
- Subtract their birth year from the current year
- Check if their full date of birth is at least 21 years before today's date (Correct answer)
- Ask the patron to verify their age verbally
- Only check the year, not the month and day
Correct answer: Check if their full date of birth is at least 21 years before today's date
A person must have reached their 21st birthday, so the server must compare the full date of birth (month, day, and year) against today's date.
Simply comparing birth years can result in serving someone who has not yet turned 21. For example, someone born on December 15, 2005, would not turn 21 until December 15, 2026, even though the year difference suggests they might be old enough earlier in 2026. TAM training teaches servers to compare the complete date of birth against today's date. Many POS systems automatically calculate this, but servers should understand the manual calculation. Some establishments use reference cards showing the oldest date of birth that is still under 21.
Question 5: What should a server do if they suspect an ID is fake or altered?
- Confiscate the ID and keep it
- Politely decline service and alert management (Correct answer)
- Accept it if the person looks old enough
- Call the police immediately without telling the patron
Correct answer: Politely decline service and alert management
The proper procedure is to politely decline service and notify management, who will decide whether to involve law enforcement.
When a TAM-certified server suspects a fraudulent ID, the recommended procedure is to politely tell the patron that you are unable to accept the ID and decline service. Do not accuse the patron of having a fake ID, as this can cause confrontation and may be wrong. Alert your manager immediately, as they can make decisions about further action including whether to contact law enforcement. In Nevada, servers are generally not authorized to confiscate IDs (that authority belongs to law enforcement), though some jurisdictions may have specific policies. Document the incident for the establishment's records.
Question 6: What physical security feature should a server look for when examining a Nevada driver's license?
- A watermark or holographic overlay (Correct answer)
- A magnetic stripe only
- The color of the card
- The font size of the name
Correct answer: A watermark or holographic overlay
Nevada driver's licenses include holographic overlays and other security features that are difficult to replicate in counterfeit versions.
Nevada driver's licenses contain multiple security features including holographic overlays (showing the Nevada state seal and Battle Born imagery), UV-reactive features visible under blacklight, microprinting, and laser-engraved information. TAM training teaches servers to familiarize themselves with these features so they can identify fakes. Tilting the card under light should reveal holographic elements. The card should feel professionally produced with uniform thickness. Common signs of fake IDs include missing holograms, blurry text, inconsistent fonts, peeling layers, and photos that appear glued on rather than embedded in the card.
TAM Card ID Verification Procedures 2
What is the minimum legal drinking age in Nevada?