Asking for ID

[Locut0s]

One of the eternal hardships, well ok more like a minor annoyance, of working in my store (7-11) is asking people for ID for the purchase of age restricted products. Sales of all lotto tickets, cigarettes, smoking accessories, and adult magazines are restricted to sale to those aged 19 or older. We don't sell alcohol in convenience stores here in Canada. Now technically it's perfectly legal to sell these products to someone on their 19th birthday without asking for ID but of course doing so would be stupid unless you knew them. And since it's very difficult to judge peoples age very accurately our company has a policy of asking for ID for anyone aged 25 or younger. That is if you suspect the person might be 25 or younger then you must ID them. That way you are guaranteed to catch all those 19 and younger. Once you start IDing everyone who looks young you start to realize that it is indeed VERY difficult to tell people's age. I've seen many people who look like they could be 35 and when you ID them they turn out to be only 21 or so. Some people in the company make it a personal policy to ID just about EVERY one, even people who look in their 40s. Now most people take being IDed in their stride and either take it as a compliment or make some joke about it. But every single day we get people who just blow up upon being asked. "I don't have it with me, for fu*ks sake I'm 29!". But the VERY worst part is when a group of friends come in and you ID one of them when they ask for cigarettes and they don't have any. Then their friends chime in and try to help out.

Customer: "Don't worry I'll buy them, I've got ID".

Me: "Sorry but I can't sell them to you, I IDed your friend and I need to see his ID it doesn't matter if you have valid ID"

Customer: "Ok fine but he's not buying it, these are for me. I'm smoking not him"

Me: "Sorry but he asked for them first and didn't have ID, then you stepped in and tried to buy them. I can't sell you any cigarettes now either"

Customer: "What the f*ck are you talking about see this this is valid ID and I'm buying this for myself. This is illegal"

blah blah blah

This happens almost EVERY day. Selling the cigarettes to the guys friend would be considered a second party sale and would not be legal. Then of course there is the issue of VALID ID, only government issued photo ID with birth date, signature and expiry date are allowed. No student IDs, no temporary drivers licenses printed non paper, no birth certificates, not 2 separate pieces, nothing expired. People just DON'T get it!

Now you might be thinking that we are taking things way to seriously here but the government here sends tobacco control officers around to stores at random to "shop" stores. When you are shopped they will send someone in who is under aged or even worse who is of age but just barely, meaning you should ID them, to test you. If you fail to ID them they can fine you anywhere from $500-$5000! Someone in my store was caught a few months back and got fined $570 bucks. Now this is a personal fine for someone who is making close to minimum wage! If it happens again the store can loose it's tobacco license and be fined as well.

It just boggles the mind how many people are willing to fight you over the issue.

clifs:

-Customer looks youngish, not necessarily under aged, and we ask for ID
-Customer is insulted and blows up.
-Customer could have really been sent in to test us and failing to ID ends in 500 buck fine

[mockmonkey]

1. At the grocery store I go to

Everyone who is buying alcohol/tobacco is asked for ID...EVERYONE. They have a sign stating it, so if someone has a problem with it...oh well.

I feel sorry for anyone that has to deal with customers. I'm always patient with clerks. I see too many jerks treat them like crap.

[Locut0s]

2. Interesting idea but do we reaqlly need too....

be IDing 75 year old grannies for their cigs just because some 30 year old punk just doesn't "get it"? Some days I wish we did have to but in the end I think it would be silly.

[Bassic]

6. There used to be a bar in Ottawa that did that.

I must admit it was a bit disconcerting to see a dude with a grey beard get carded. Was was annoying about it though, is that one of the bouncers would not consider Québec ID to be valid. That was very stupid because half the bar's patrons lived in Québec.

[hickman]

3. Too damn bad. No I.D. no sale.

Too bad if your buddy tries with his ID. You guy's should ask your managers for one of those gas horns. When they give you crap, blow the horn. You don't need that underage harassment.

edit for forgot spellcheck. Damn.

[cwydro]

4. You have my sympathy

Years ago, I had a friend who worked in a store with the same policy. One time he sold cigarettes to a young guy without asking for ID. The guy worked for ATF. My friend was fired, fined, and not able to work in any retail store selling such items for a certain number of years (forget how many). That is a hard enough job as it is. I've actually been carded after I turned 40; I've always looked young for my age, but not THAT young. But I cheerfully handed over my license. No big deal. Actually made my day.

[Bassic]

5. We do sell alcohol in convenience stores in Québec actually.

And yeah, I've been there man.

One guy, he must have been like 15, gave me a driver's licence. The driver's licence belonged to a guy I had been to high school with. :D It was funny watching the expression on his face when I told him that :D

I've carded a lot of people who were quite passed the legal age (18 here in Québec) and have been insulted many times. Another idiot even threatened to beat me up at the end of my shift, but I just laughed in his face. He was there looking tough all right, but he didn't even take one step towards me. Oh joyful memories.

[ChoralScholar]

7. There was a story in my local newspaper yesterday

that the state of Arkansas is changing all 'under 18' licenses. Most licenses are sideways (landscape) orientation. The new 'under 18' version will be a vertical (portrait) orientation. This is, apparently, so those who are too busy/unobservant to look at a date will know automatically if they are underage.

[Locut0s]

8. Hehe neat idea. (nt)

[northzax]

9. I think Virginia does this

for people under 21 as well.;

[Locut0s]

10. The US is the only country I know that issues...

drivers licences in the vertical format. I've seen 2 or 3 before from other states.

[dropkickpa]

12. PA does this too n/t

[Ariana Celeste]

13. Washington does that

I have 2 vertical permits from my teen years. :)

[Left Is Write]

14. Idaho does that for those under 21.

[skygazer]

11. I work retail as well

It is a hassle when people argue with you but that's part of what we get paid for. Look at it this way - you're not there to make friends. You're there to do a job and that requires asking for ID. If someone gives you too much of a hassle, they simply need to be told, "I'm sorry, I've explained the policy. If you don't like it, you'll have to go elsewhere."

I'm not losing my job for anyone. Fuck 'em.

(and usually the ones who are arguing are the ones who are underage)

[Left Is Write]

15. I'm 40! Please card me!

Two recent experiences:

1. I was in line at the liquor store. The person in front of me and the person behind me both got asked for ID. I did not.

2. I was buying beer and wine with my grocery purchases at the supermarket. The cashier was new and being trained by a veteran cashier. As the beer scanned, the computer beeped, indicating that ID should be checked for the alcohol purchase. The cashier looked at me uncertainly and then at her trainer, asking, "I don't have to check her, do I?"

*sigh*