TAM ID Verification & Age Compliance Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A customer presents a vertical-format driver's license. What does this format typically indicate in Maryland?
- The license is expired
- The license holder is under 21 (Correct answer)
- The license is from out of state
- The license has been renewed recently
Correct answer: The license holder is under 21
Maryland issues vertical driver's licenses to individuals under 21 to make it easy for servers to identify underage customers.
Question 2: When checking a military ID for age verification, what key information must you confirm?
- Branch of service and rank
- Date of birth and expiration date (Correct answer)
- Social Security number and rank
- Home state and branch of service
Correct answer: Date of birth and expiration date
You must verify the date of birth to confirm the person is 21 or older and check the expiration date to ensure the ID is still valid.
Question 3: A customer's ID shows they will turn 21 in two days. What should you do?
- Serve them since they are almost 21
- Refuse service because they are not yet 21 (Correct answer)
- Ask a manager to make an exception
- Serve them one drink as a courtesy
Correct answer: Refuse service because they are not yet 21
You must refuse service because the legal drinking age is 21, and the customer has not yet reached that age.
Question 4: Which of the following is NOT an acceptable form of ID for alcohol purchase verification in Maryland?
- State-issued driver's license
- U.S. passport
- Student ID from a Maryland college (Correct answer)
- U.S. military ID card
Correct answer: Student ID from a Maryland college
Student IDs are not government-issued documents and are not acceptable for alcohol age verification in Maryland.
Question 5: What should you do if a customer's ID photo looks like them but the birth date indicates they are 19?
- Serve them since the photo matches
- Ask for a second ID to confirm
- Refuse service based on the birth date (Correct answer)
- Call the police immediately
Correct answer: Refuse service based on the birth date
The birth date on the ID controls the decision — if it shows the person is under 21, you must refuse service regardless of the photo match.
Question 6: A group of four enters together and only one person does not have an ID. What is the best course of action?
- Serve the whole group since most have IDs
- Refuse service to the entire group
- Serve those with valid IDs and refuse the one without (Correct answer)
- Ask the group to vouch for the person without an ID
Correct answer: Serve those with valid IDs and refuse the one without
You should refuse service to the individual without a valid ID but may serve the others who have provided proper identification.
Question 7: Under TAM guidelines, how should you handle an ID that has been laminated by the owner?
- Accept it if the photo matches
- Treat it as potentially altered and refuse service (Correct answer)
- Accept it only if a second ID is presented
- Call the issuing state's DMV to verify
Correct answer: Treat it as potentially altered and refuse service
Owner-applied lamination can conceal alterations and makes the ID potentially fraudulent, so service should be refused.
TAM ID Verification & Age Compliance Procedures 2
A customer presents a vertical-format driver's license.
What does this format typically indicate in Maryland?