Step 8
Checking ID’s
Checking identification is a mandatory part of any bartender’s job. Frequently, local police departments set up sting operations. If the police send an underage person in to ask for a drink, and you serve them, you and your employer could face fines and possibly lose the chance to serve alcohol. An individual must be 21 years old to order alcohol. Some states allow bartenders to be 18 years old if they work in on-premise at an establishment. Most states require bartenders to be 21 for off-premise serving such as catering.
Tip: Always keep somewhere near you the current date of birth (minimum) which is required to drink. You can update this date every day. It may be a notepad, calendar, or just a sticky note.
Tip 2: The best ways to verify a person is usually by their height. Hair color can be died and eyes may contain contact lens which show a different color pupil. Facial structure is another great verification method.
Red flags: Any ID which is bent, delaminated, or has a crooked photo or text may be a fake. If you are not 100% sure that the person you are serving is the person in the ID, call over a co-worker and get a second opinion.
STEP 1: Watch Step 8 and learn the ways to verify the id is real.
STEP 2: determine the last day that a person would need to be born in order to buy alcohol today.
