The Birthday-Eve Beer Run
At 9:40 p.m. on Friday, May 9, 2025, you are the cashier at a licensed packaged-goods store in Normal, Illinois. A young man places a 12-pack of beer on the counter and hands you an Illinois driver's license. The card is vertical and reads 'UNDER 21 UNTIL 05/10/2025' in red near the top. His birthdate is 05/10/2004. The photo matches his face, and the height and weight listed (5'11", 165 lbs) are close to his appearance. The card is not expired and has a hologram. He says, 'I'm basically 21 - it's tomorrow, and I'm just buying it for a party tonight.' He is polite and does not appear intoxicated. A line is forming behind him, and your manager is in the back office. He also has a college ID in his wallet. The store's policy is to check every customer who appears under 30.
1. Based on the ID, is the customer legally 21 at the time of the sale? Show the date calculation and explain what the 'UNDER 21 UNTIL' date means.
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No. Today is May 9, 2025. The ID's 'UNDER 21 UNTIL' date is May 10, 2025, which is his 21st birthday. He turns 21 at midnight on May 10, so at 9:40 p.m. on May 9 he is still 20. The vertical format and red 'UNDER 21 UNTIL' marking confirm this. The college ID is not a government-issued proof-of-age document and does not change the result. The fact that he is 'basically 21' or buying for a party is irrelevant; furnishing alcohol to a person under 21 is prohibited even without payment. You must refuse the sale.
2. What should you do at the register, and what should you not do? Include how to handle the line and the manager.
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Refuse politely and clearly: 'I can't sell this until tomorrow.' Do not accept the college ID as proof of age. Do not hold the beer while he waits until midnight if store policy or closing time makes that impractical; tell him to return on or after May 10. Keep the line moving by asking him to step aside so the next customer can be served. If he argues, call the manager, but the manager cannot lawfully authorize the sale. Do not confiscate the ID - it appears valid, not fake. Document the refusal if your store keeps an incident log. Do not sell to his friends or accept a 'gift' arrangement.
3. What are the legal consequences if you sell the beer to him?
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If you sell, you commit a sale to a minor (under 21) under Illinois law, exposing you to a Class A misdemeanor - up to 364 days in jail and/or a $2,500 fine - and the store to ILCC administrative action, including suspension or revocation of its liquor license. The store could also face civil liability if the beer is consumed by minors and someone is injured. Your BASSET certification and the store's license are at risk. The correct choice is refusal.