Liquor Store Nonsense

[Guest]

I got carded buying a packet of cigarettes in a gas station a few months back. You have to be 16 to buy them over here. I was gobsmacked and had to ask the woman to repeat what she just said. Bear in mind I'd driven in (legal driving age: 17), filled up with gas (legal age: 16) and was paying by credit card (legal age: 18).

When I responded that I was a teacher, the assistant went red and started mumbling her apologies. I wasn't mad over it - just amazed.

I get carded everywhere in the US, which really annoys me. It wasn't nice having to display my full name and nationality to someone in order to get into the dirty dvds section of a sex shop. I also got carded just for accompanying a friend to the liquor store. I wasn't aware that you had to be a certain age to look at a bottle of wine out there, and I didnt have any ID on me... so instead I launched into a sermon on the American paranoia over alcohol, and how I'd probably find it easier picking up a box of bullets in Walmart. I went on for quite a long time, until I noticed the assistants' jaws starting to drop. They served my friend without so much as asking for ID. I think they were just glad to see the back of me

In the US the rule is (and it is a rule) to card anyone who appears to be under 35. Most stores posts signs to that effect because so many underage people work to appear of legal age so they can purchase beer, etc. So if you still look under 35, you are likely to be carded.

 

[Guest]

In the US the rule is (and it is a rule) to card anyone who appears to be under 35. Most stores posts signs to that effect because so many underage people work to appear of legal age so they can purchase beer, etc. So if you still look under 35, you are likely to be carded.

In Kansas it is age 27, at least that's what the signs say in the grocery stores and convenience stores.

 

[Guest]

In Kansas it is age 27, at least that's what the signs say in the grocery stores and convenience stores.

Kansas is always special Florida is 35, and I think Georgia is as well -- in fact, it seems common all up the East coast. I thought I saw the sign in California, too.

Sometimes I think they picked 35 because even though it's well old enough to buy most anything (it's almost old enough to run for President) but hardly anyone gets insulted to be informed they look like they are under 35 without feeling like there is TOO Much of a "bullshit" factor...

 

[matriarch]

Kansas is always special Florida is 35, and I think Georgia is as well -- in fact, it seems common all up the East coast. I thought I saw the sign in California, too.

Sometimes I think they picked 35 because even though it's well old enough to buy most anything (it's almost old enough to run for President) but hardly anyone gets insulted to be informed they look like they are under 35 without feeling like there is TOO Much of a "bullshit" factor...

I would !!

The problem with asking non-nationals if they have photographic/age ID, is that its only the driving licence in UK (or employment passes, and who carries those), that have photographs on, and not everyone has those. If a driver in the UK had a paper driving licence before the photograph ID cards came in, there is no obligation on their part to obtain a photographic licence (at a cost of £10).

I've been asked for my ID over here when using my credit card in some places, not all, and I have no problem with that....but hell's teeth, I have silver hair, enough wrinkles to keep a kiddy with a coloured pen busy for hours, gnarled hands, liver spots on my skin - I lOOK my age.........if anyone was to ask me for an ID for buying booze I'd not be offended, I'd think they were totally mad !!

 

[Guest]

I would !!

The problem with asking non-nationals if they have photographic/age ID, is that its only the driving licence in UK (or employment passes, and who carries those), that have photographs on, and not everyone has those. If a driver in the UK had a paper driving licence before the photograph ID cards came in, there is no obligation on their part to obtain a photographic licence (at a cost of £10).

I've been asked for my ID over here when using my credit card in some places, not all, and I have no problem with that....but hell's teeth, I have silver hair, enough wrinkles to keep a kiddy with a coloured pen busy for hours, gnarled hands, liver spots on my skin - I lOOK my age.........if anyone was to ask me for an ID for buying booze I'd not be offended, I'd think they were totally mad !!

LOL!

I live in an area where there are lots and lots and LOTS of people over 50 (Florida is very popular with the retiree crowd) and lots and lots and LOTS of people who have facelifts, BoTox, hair dye, tooth veneers -- in short, any procedure possible to make a person look younger than their age. Thus, the "under 35" rule here .

We are victims of our vanity.

As for the credit card thing, I have written in the signature line of my cards "See Photo ID", just to make it that little bit harder on anyone who wants to steal my identity or my credit cards. And when someone asks to see my photo id before accepting my card, I thank them.

 

[minsue]

As for the credit card thing, I have written in the signature line of my cards "See Photo ID", just to make it that little bit harder on anyone who wants to steal my identity or my credit cards. And when someone asks to see my photo id before accepting my card, I thank them.

Same here. One of my cards didn't have room for a signature and the statement, so it didn't even have a signature on it at all. It amazed me the number of times someone acted like they were checking my signature on the receipt against the back of the card and then nodded and completed the transaction without ever noticing there was no signature on the card. I don't sign my receipts "check photo ID" so I'm pretty sure those "signatures" didn't match. Those who actually check the ID always get thanked.

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

I don't ever sign the back of my cards. I rarely get asked for ID.

 

[Guest]

I don't ever sign the back of my cards. I rarely get asked for ID.

THe problem with not writing ANYTHING on the card is that if you drop it, someone else can sign it and you're sunk.

Found that out the hard way.

 

[impressive]

In the US the rule is (and it is a rule) to card anyone who appears to be under 35. Most stores posts signs to that effect because so many underage people work to appear of legal age so they can purchase beer, etc. So if you still look under 35, you are likely to be carded.

These days, I'm quite thrilled to be mistaken for under 35.

It happens occasionally ... in poor lighting ... until I smile & flash all those laugh lines & wrinkles around my eyes.

 

[R. Richard]

For a brief time, I owned a bar. One night I attempted to card what appeared to me to be an underage girl. Her adult years/juvenile mind date became very angry and stormed out, telling me he would never again return. [I just asked politely if I could have that last in writing!]

Loud boy and nymphette then went a couple of blocks down the street and the polite people there served her booze. The polite people from the Alcoholic Board of Control then asked to see her ID. Her ID said 17. The ABC guys said, "Everybody out of the pool!" It was bad for their business and good for mine!

 

[matriarch]

These days, I'm quite thrilled to be mistaken for under 35.

It happens occasionally ... in poor lighting ... until I smile & flash all those laugh lines & wrinkles around my eyes.

 

[MaeveoSliabh]

i get ID'd constantly... except in two places. And those places only because i was at one point a regular. It got to where they knew (both restaurants) that if i ordered margaritas i wanted chicken, and if i ordered beer i was getting steak. All the waitstaff had my orders memorized. hehehe...

But anybody that's met me face to face could tell you why, too. Most mistake me for a high school or first year college student (about 17 or 18), or a good ten years younger than actuality.

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

I get carded anytime I buy beer for hubby. I think the rule here is *under 27*. Which is good for me, since I'm older than that.

 

[impressive]

I left out the sprinkling of grey hair, too. Nature's "highlights." *nods*

 

[Belegon]

regarding the Credit Card thing.

many companies actually have a policy to NOT check ID. Others try to enforce a policy to ALWAYS check ID.

The problem is simple and indicative of the way our system now works.

3 people, all at the register in a single line, pay with a credit card. employee does not check ID on number 1 or number 3, but does on number 2. number 2 happens to be a member of a minority group.

number two sues for discrimination.

this is not an invented scenario. This is an actual case that happened to my former employer.

The simple fact of the matter is that it is less expensive for a company to take excessive mulitiple losses on merchandise when the purchase is contested then it is to face a single discrimination lawsuit.


now, about signing your cards....

you know that stuff you throw away when the card comes in? The contract terms? If you read them they will tell you that in order to fulfill your end of the contract you need to sign the card. If you do not, then you are in breach of contract. Technically, if a company can prove that you did not sign the card, used it, and then lost it...and someone else got it and used it...you are liable for EVERYTHING purchased.

I've never heard of a CC company enforcing this...but legally they could.

 

[cloudy]

regarding the Credit Card thing.

many companies actually have a policy to NOT check ID. Others try to enforce a policy to ALWAYS check ID.

The problem is simple and indicative of the way our system now works.

3 people, all at the register in a single line, pay with a credit card. employee does not check ID on number 1 or number 3, but does on number 2. number 2 happens to be a member of a minority group.

number two sues for discrimination.

this is not an invented scenario. This is an actual case that happened to my former employer.

The simple fact of the matter is that it is less expensive for a company to take excessive mulitiple losses on merchandise when the purchase is contested then it is to face a single discrimination lawsuit.


now, about signing your cards....

you know that stuff you throw away when the card comes in? The contract terms? If you read them they will tell you that in order to fulfill your end of the contract you need to sign the card. If you do not, then you are in breach of contract. Technically, if a company can prove that you did not sign the card, used it, and then lost it...and someone else got it and used it...you are liable for EVERYTHING purchased.

I've never heard of a CC company enforcing this...but legally they could.

Yes.

And....Discover and Amex have a rule that only the cardholder (the one who's name is actually printed on the card) can use that particular card (they'll issue another one with the same acct number for a spouse), but Mastercard and Visa will let one spouse use the other's card. Try explaining that to a customer.

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

Yes.

And....Discover and Amex have a rule that only the cardholder (the one who's name is actually printed on the card) can use that particular card (they'll issue another one with the same acct number for a spouse), but Mastercard and Visa will let one spouse use the other's card. Try explaining that to a customer.

Actually, my husband tried to used my Mastercard once. I had to call the store and give them my information and tell them it was okay for him to use it before they would allow it.

 

[Antfarmer77]

I was in Walmart not too long ago, in a bad mood as usual, and I picked up a bottle of wine (for dinner) and a 12 pack ( beer is more of a snack food) and the girl running the register scanned them successively, and the dorky kid with the bad skin bagging my stuff up says something to the effect of "I bet he'd like you to card him, it'd really make his day" Ok, now I'm 44 and I started greying out early,but I'm by no means all grey, so I just shoot the kid a look and ignore him, but what I wanted to do was grab him by his WB tie and 'splain to him I'm not over the hill so far I couldn't smack him so far into the future it'd take his acne a week to catch up to him, but I didn't LOL

 

[Guest]

Yes.

And....Discover and Amex have a rule that only the cardholder (the one who's name is actually printed on the card) can use that particular card (they'll issue another one with the same acct number for a spouse), but Mastercard and Visa will let one spouse use the other's card. Try explaining that to a customer.

We just make sure we each have a card with our name on it. It makes me nervous to use someone else's card, even when it's the same account.

Being a simple minded person, I prefer to just present my ID for credit card purchases in any case where someone else handles my card. I also keep an eye on waiters/waitresses who take my card from the table -- it takes nothing for them to make a quick copy of your number for use in online transactions. There have been actual scams of that kind run around this area.

Weird juxtaposition -- to protect one's identity, sometimes one has to surrender one's privacy, because, DAMN, thieves are smart and ruthless.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I'm 30 and I got carded for a video game last week

I don't drink or smoke though, so I never get carded for alcohol or ciggs.

 

[fallenupright]

Yeah, I worked at a convinience store that sold cigarettes... I carded anyone who looked like they might go to school with me, or be younger. Oldest person ended up being close to 40, but she was flattered to get carded.

I didn't want to be fired, fined tens of thousands of dollars and cost the store itself even more for selling to someone underage.

I almost never carded for buying lottery tickets though. Consequences not as serious, and it was mostly family people and little old ladies buying that anyways.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

The first lottery ticket I bought was sold to me by a classmate the day before I was old enough to buy one, because I figured an illegally purchased ticket was more likely to win than a legally bought one

 

[SlickTony]

Unfortunately, I get that all the time - I recently got carded for cigs LOL I am 40 LOL - LOL THANK GOD for carding

Enjoy it while you've got it Charley. Believe it or not, eventually it does go away.