A guest presents an intact driver’s license with a photo that resembles the guest; however, the license expired a month ago. What should the server/seller do?
Ask the guest for the date of birth on the license.
Tell the guest to recite the home address.
Check for all other features of a valid ID.
Refuse alcohol service.
The correct answer and explanation is :
Correct Answer: Refuse alcohol service.
Explanation (300 words):
When serving alcohol, it is critical that the server or seller adheres to all legal requirements regarding identification. One of the most important requirements is that the ID presented must be valid—meaning it must be current and not expired. In this case, although the driver’s license appears genuine and the photo resembles the guest, the license is expired. Legally, an expired ID is no longer valid for verifying age, even if it was issued by a government agency and has all the correct features.
Serving alcohol to someone based on an expired ID puts the server and the establishment at serious legal risk. If the guest is underage and is served, both the individual server and the business could face fines, suspension or loss of liquor license, and potential criminal charges depending on local laws.
It is not enough to simply check for other features of a valid ID such as holograms, photo likeness, or matching address. While those features help confirm the ID is not fake, they do not make up for the fact that the ID is expired. Similarly, asking the guest to confirm the date of birth or recite their address is not a substitute for a valid, unexpired ID.
The safest and legally correct course of action is to refuse alcohol service and politely explain to the guest that you cannot accept expired identification. Most guests will understand if you explain that it’s a legal requirement, not a personal judgment. Always err on the side of caution when alcohol and identification are involved to ensure compliance with local laws and to promote responsible alcohol service.
By following this protocol, you protect yourself, your establishment, and your community from potential harm or liability.