TIPS ID Verification & Preventing Underage Sales

Question 1

Under TIPS guidelines, which action should a server take FIRST when a patron appears to be close to the legal drinking age?

Accepted Answer

Check whether the ID has expired

Answer

Ask the patron to verbally state their birthday

Answer

Compare the photo to the patron's physical appearance

Answer

Look for the state hologram or security feature

Question 2

According to TIPS training, which part of a government-issued ID do minors MOST commonly alter in an attempt to purchase alcohol?

Accepted Answer

The birth date

Answer

The address field

Answer

The ID number

Answer

The expiration date

Question 3

A patron hands you a driver's license that feels as though the lamination is slightly raised near the date-of-birth area. What does TIPS training recommend?

Accepted Answer

Refuse service, return the ID, and document the refusal

Answer

Accept the ID since raised lamination is a normal manufacturing artifact

Answer

Confiscate the ID and hold it for law enforcement

Answer

Accept the ID but limit the patron to one drink

Question 4

Which of the following forms of identification is NOT acceptable for age verification under TIPS guidelines?

Accepted Answer

A photocopy of a driver's license

Answer

A valid U.S. passport

Answer

A valid state-issued driver's license

Answer

A valid U.S. military ID

Question 5

When a server asks a patron whose ID looks questionable to state their birthdate, the patron hesitates and gets the year wrong. What is the BEST interpretation of this under TIPS training?

Accepted Answer

This is a strong indicator of a fraudulent ID and service should be refused

Answer

The patron is probably just nervous and should be given the benefit of the doubt

Answer

The server should ask a second question and give the patron another chance

Answer

The patron may have a disability and should be served to avoid discrimination

Question 6

To correctly determine whether a patron has reached the legal drinking age, TIPS recommends which calculation method?

Accepted Answer

Counting backward from today's exact date to confirm the full birthdate meets the legal minimum

Answer

Subtracting the patron's birth year from the current year

Answer

Estimating based on the patron's physical appearance

Answer

Asking the patron to confirm verbally that they are of legal age