Ways to Annoy your Grocery Clerk #29 – Carding for Alcohol

I think that’s a great law! California should have that too!

I was young when I cashiered [20] and I was always so hesitant to card people that were “on the fence”.

Best one tho’? I had a beautiful woman come through my line wearing sunglasses. I asked her to remove her sunglasses, which she did, no fuss but dang if I could tell so I ask for her ID.

She could NOT get that ID out of her purse fast enough, she was giddy. She kept saying “I can’t believe this. This is so great. I can’t wait to tell my son!”

Yep. She was 36 years old. And so tickled I carded her that she gave me a hug and a kiss on the way out.

I was happy I made her day, but dang I was really off – and her son? 18 years old.

I never had a problem with those people that looked young or were actually underage. I liked my job and I was shopped all the time by the ABC board – I wasn’t losing my job.

Here in NC parents buy the beer for their kids, while they’re (the kids) huddled off in a corner near the front door, waiting. It’s disgusting. At least I assume it’s their parents. Maybe it’s not.

Never knew that law, but it’s a good one!

hawaii law is like oregons. we got 86d out of a store because we helped put some alcohol on the cart and we werent 21.

OoooooooOOOo! Great response!! Love it!
Yeah, I love morons in the Ostate who don’t know the law. Like its that hard to wait in the car while your friend buys the PBR. And that in itself is a dead giveaway… PBR? Really? The best beer state in the country and you’re buying PBR? You’re clearly underage.

I just think it’s ironic that even though i can’t legally drink alcohol i’m legally allowed to sell it.

Yay for Johnny J for puttin’ the Move in MAAM! Wait… did i get that right? Not like i do alcohol training twice a year or anything….

So are you saying that if I go grocery shopping with my kids, and I want to buy a bottle of wine, I can’t because my children are underage and I happen to have them with me? Because that’s basically the same thing as 7 guys hanging out together, and just ONE want to by beer. I know it’s not your law, but it IS stupid.

I believe that we have the same law in WA. I think it is a good law. to Aunt Juice box: law does state that you can have immediate family with you when you purchase even if that person is underage. I ran into that probably before I turned 21 with my brother who was 23. However, the clerk did not sell us a bottle of wine for a family function because I was underage. It was a quick fix by informing a manager.

I love carding people. It’s always the ones that just turned legal that get the angriest. Like we are supposed to know that you turned 21 two days ago.

To Aunt Juice box: It depends on what state you live in. most states will sell alcohol to mothers with their children present. The difference is that you are the parent of your child and people have to assume that you are buying it for yourself and not you child unless the store can somehow prove that you are buying it for your child. most groups (or posses) are young kids that have just turned 21 within a few years. in that case, yes, they will all get carded because it’s more obvious that all of them will or might be drinking the alcohol. if you ever get denied for alcohol because your child is with you, i would definitely ask for a manager.

Thanks for breaking that down Amber =)

@SkippyMom ~ i have that problem now. i am 35 & my son is 18. i recieve numerous comments about not looking my age, & people usually assume that my son is my brother, friend, or ( sucks for him! ) boyfriend. i don’t bring him in line with me anymore if i’m buying a 6-pack, because i have been refused because of his age. Too weird.
Sidenote~ My Mom was a cashier at Safeway for years. She ended up losing her job because someone called in sick, she was put into the xpress lane & had left her glasses in the breakroom. She ended up selling alcohol to a 20 yr. who had a fake i.d., as part of a sting. i get carded every time that i buy alcohol. i’m told that i should feel flattered, but i used to get irritated. Then i remember what happened with my mom, & i realize that to not do so could cost someone their job. i would think, though, that my grey hairs & the fact that i have been to the same checker at least 15-20 times over the last few months might spare me. Just sayin’. It’s kind of insulting to be 35 with an 18 yr. old son & still be carded like a kid. But i get it.

We have a similar law up here in Winnipeg, Canada for tobacco products and lighters… One time I got into an argument with a 12 year old kid who wanted to buy a Zippo as a gift for his dad, but legally I couldn’t sell it to him. Turns out his mom worked in the same mall as me, but boy was she irritated when she had to come down on her break to pay for it herself. I just asked her point-blank: would you still be this upset with me if you found out that your son was buying it so that HE could start smoking? That shut her up pretty quick.

That’s an interesting law. I think it makes good sense, though.

As for the law, I think the easiest way to do it is just to card everyone, every time. Yes, it would get a bit annoying if you’re in once a week to buy beer from the same cashier, and you’re 72. I’d rather have it that way, though, as proof that you’re not discriminating, and that you’re not letting anyone slip through.

I was in Portland the other day and we bought beer from a 7-11 and I thought it weird that the cashier *who was being a rude bitch to begin with* asked to see my ID even though my husband was the one buying it. She got even more attitude when I handed it to her with a puzzled looked. Like, really bitch? I’ve never been to oregon, you swear I’m gonna know ur laws coming off the plane!