The 11:40 p.m. ID Check at the Lincoln Taproom
At 11:40 p.m. on a Saturday, a Lincoln taproom is at capacity. Four customers approach the bar and order a round of draft beers. You card each one. Customer A presents a horizontal Nebraska driver's license with a matching photo; the date of birth shows she is 22, but the license expired 12 days ago. Customer B presents a vertical Nebraska state identification card; it is not expired, and the date of birth shows he will turn 21 in three weeks. Customer C presents a valid U.S. passport card with a matching photo. Customer D presents a valid Mexican consular identification card with a matching photo and a date of birth showing 23. House policy says employees must check ID for anyone who appears under 30 and must refuse service when proof is not satisfactory. The bar is loud, the line is growing, and Customer A says, 'Come on, I'm obviously old enough.'
1. For each of the four customers, decide whether you may serve and explain the basis for your decision.
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Customer A - no sale without another valid ID. The date of birth shows 22, but the license is expired. An expired license is not satisfactory proof of age for alcohol service. The fact that she is 'obviously' older does not replace valid identification under house policy and Nebraska verification expectations. Ask for another acceptable ID; if she has none, refuse.
Customer B - no sale. The vertical format is not by itself disqualifying; what controls is the date of birth. The ID shows he is still 20, so serving him would be a sale to a minor. The fact that he turns 21 in three weeks is irrelevant.
Customer C - may serve after matching the photo and checking validity. A valid U.S. passport card is a reliable government-issued photo ID. Confirm the photo matches, the card is not expired, and the date of birth shows 21 or older.
Customer D - no sale on the consular card alone. A Mexican consular identification card is not one of the forms Nebraska treats as acceptable proof for alcohol sales. Ask for a valid driver's license, state ID, military ID, or passport. If none is available, refuse.
2. How should you handle the group's order and the pressure to hurry?
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Separate the acceptable customer from the unacceptable ones. Do not take a single group order and 'sort it out' later. Tell the group clearly: 'I can serve the passport card, but I cannot serve the expired license, the vertical ID showing under 21, or the consular card without other valid ID.' Do not let one customer buy drinks for the others as a workaround; that would still be providing alcohol to a person who has not shown satisfactory proof. If the group pressures you, involve the manager and slow the transaction down. Speed is not a defense. Document the refusal in the house log if policy requires it, and watch for anyone who tries to pass a drink to the refused customers.
3. If you serve Customer B by mistake, what facts will matter in reviewing the incident?
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The key facts will be what the ID actually showed, whether you looked at the date of birth rather than just the format, whether you matched the photo, whether you checked for tampering, and whether you followed house policy. The vertical format is a warning sign but not proof by itself; the date of birth on the card showed he was under 21. A mistake is not cured by saying the line was busy or the ID looked real. The licensee will want the incident documented, the employee retrained, and the refusal procedure reinforced. Serving a minor is a serious violation even if the customer looked older.