Carding (US Laws)

This page is meant for informative purposes only; do not read this as a replacement for official training to work in an establishment that serves alcohol. Visit Serving Alcohol's State Alcohol Server Training Certification page to see what certification is required in your state.

Every business should have its carding policies and procedures posted for customers to see. In a standard bar, these are signs explaining who the bar will card, and what you must legally do if you do not provide a valid ID before being served. The first bar I worked in displayed a sign stating: "We have the right to card any guest who appears under the age of 35."

The minimum age to purchase alcohol is 21 years old in every US state. It is important to be consistent with your carding, not serve underage customers, and avoid a failed sting. Build a company culture of checking ID for anyone who appears under 35. Make sure all staff know what birthdate a customer needs to have in order to be 21 years of age that day.

The acceptable forms of ID also vary by state, however, most bars WILL accept:

• A valid state-issued drivers license or identification card (with a photo)

• A valid military ID (with a photo)

• A valid tribal ID (with a photo)

• A valid Passport or Passport Card (with a photo)

Most bars WILL NOT accept:

• Copies of any of the documents listed above

• Any form of ID above without a photo

• Other ID forms like library, student, or employee cards

When To Card a Customer

• As your customer enters the bar, whether at the door or once the customer has sat at a table or the bar top.

• Depending on the business, after 9:00pm, when family service transitions into adults-only.

• When a customer is being disruptive or unruly, in order to remove them from the premises and take note of the customer's information for future visits.

• When a customer is injured. For example, if medical assistance is called to the bar.

• To re-card a customer who appears nervous, defensive, and/or underage.

Take your time examining an ID. It should be more than a quick glance. Even if your bar shift is busy and stressful, it is always better to be thorough and confident in your decision.

What To Check on the ID

Click the arrows for drop-down details:

Is it Valid?

Are you holding an acceptable form of identification? Check the expiration date: Is it still valid?

Is it Real?

Check for a fine-line pattern on the background, a transparent picture behind the information, and laser-cut images appearing when you reflect the license in light.

Most IDs have rounded edges, so check for ragged or square edges.

Gently bend the ID to check the laminate. It should not bubble.

The ID should not be peeling. The photo of the person should not have red eyes. The print should not be fuzzy, smudged, or covered with white-out, and it should not state the words: "Not a Government Document".

If you have a UV flashlight, you can check for a second image. The imagery varies by state, and only four current state licenses don't show an image under UV light: Maine, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Tennessee.

For a thourough look at ID features, check out Drivers License Guide's useful infographic.

Does the Person Match?

95% of ID fraud cases come from minors borrowing a sibling or friend's. Does this ID have a picture of the person who gave it to you? Does the height and physical description match? If they are wearing a mask, does the eye color match?

Are there Underage Indicators?

Does the date of birth on the card make the person over 21 years old? Licenses with a vertical orientation are for people under 21, and the date they become legal age is written on the ID.

Does it Scan?

If your bar utilizes ID scanners, scan the barcode. Some forged fake IDs have barcodes that don't work.

If everything looks in order from the list above, you can serve the customer.

If You Believe the ID is False

Ask follow-up questions like:

• What does your middle initial stand for?

• What is your zip code?

• Are you an organ donor?

• What is the capital of the state you're registered in?

• What year did you graduate high school?

• What is your zodiac? (Almost everyone knows their own)

Here's a drop-down list of zodiacs by date:

• Dec 22 - Jan 19: Capricorn (12/22 - 1/19)

• Jan 20 - Feb 18: Aquarius (1/20 - 2/18)

• Feb 19 - Mar 20: Pisces (2/19 - 3/20)

• Mar 21 - Apr 19: Aries (3/21 - 4/19)

• Apr 20 - May 20: Taurus (4/20 - 5/20)

• May 21 - June 21: Gemini (5/21 - 6/21)

• June 22 - July 22: Cancer (6/22 - 7/22)

• July 23 - Aug 22: Leo (7/23 - 8/22)

• Aug 23 - Sept 22: Virgo (8/23 - 9/22)

• Sept 23 - Oct 23: Libra (9/23 - 10/23)

• Oct 24 - Nov 21: Scorpio (10/24 - 11/21)

• Nov 22 - Dec 21: Sagittarius (11/22 - 12/21)

If the customer fails to confirm the information on the ID, explain this to the guest, deny their entry, and bring the ID to a manager. Do not feel bad for doing your job and following the law.

If your establishment could use training or refreshing on carding, your local police department or liquor license provider can provide team training.

At team meetings, make sure carding is discussed often, to keep everyone up to date and confident. Discuss any fake IDs circulating the area, any new designs or changes, and who your staff can go to if they are unsure about an ID.

ID scanning equipment is becoming more reliable and popular, so your team may provide these tools. Continue to use your judgement and common sense, scanning the ID visually as well as with the equipment.

What Happens if You Serve a Minor?

You may be fined, face suspension or possible criminal conviction, or lose your license altogether.

My first bar job was at a chain restaurant, and I remember the rumors and whispers about another of our locations: They (allegedly) had let an underage customer walk out of the restaurant drinking from an open bottle of wine. Apparently, the customer was charged with an MIP (Minor in Possession), the staff that had served the customer was fired and their licenses removed, and the restaurant was temporarily closed. That story was an important lesson for our location.

What's a Sting?

Local & federal authorities do routine undercover operations to make sure companies are following carding laws correctly. They want to see that employees are checking the age of customers before serving alcohol; they are not trying to deceive you.

Sting operations often involve sending a decoy into the establishment who looks like they may not be legal age. If you do not ask for a valid ID, or if you incorrectly read the ID and serve the decoy alcohol, both you and your establishment will be cited and fined. You may be suspended from your job, and your establishment may close.

You may hear certain trick phrases you can ask to test if the customer is a decoy, like explicitly asking: "Are you over 21?". Sting decoys cannot lie, as the operation is to test your procedure, not to manipulate you. This is a great question to use as you check the ID for anyone who appears underage, but remember that underage people who aren't decoys in a sting may try to lie and manipulate. Always check the ID thoroughly, taking your time.

Overview

It can feel uncomfortable or stressful to card a customer: Maybe your shift is overwhelmingly busy, or you're hoping to impress your new table with good service. It can be a tough conversation to tell a customer they need to leave, whether they don't have an ID or you determine theirs is fake. But push through the self-consciousness to do your job confidently. Your job matters more than one ticked-off or impatient customer.