Checking Identification Individuals under 21 years of age

Checking Identification Individuals under 21 years of age may not purchase alcohol. Michigan law requires servers to make a good faith effort to determine the age of those attempting to purchase alcohol. The customer must be clearly of legal age. Some employers require servers to perform universal ID checks, while others ask servers to check ID for anyone who looks under a certain age. To be clearly of legal age means the customer looks older than the age your management wants you to check.

CHECKING IDENTIFICATION Michigan law requires servers to make a good faith effort to determine the age of those attempting to purchase alcohol. This can be done with any government-issued picture identification, including: Driver's license Official Michigan personal identification card Military identification card Passport

Checking Identification Michigan issues visibly different driver licenses to individuals above and below the age of 21: Over 21 licenses are printed in horizontal orientation Under 21 licenses are printed in vertical orientation

CHECKING IDENTIFICATION Have the customer hand you the ID Do not accept or handle a customer’s wallet Check the expiration date Do not accept an expired ID Check the date of birth Subtract 20 from the current year, subtract one more year, has the customer had a birthday yet this year? If no, then under 21 Touch / Look / Ask Determine if it is fake/modified

Touching / Looking / Asking Touch to feel for: Ask when unsure: – Raised edges around photo Look for: – Bumpy surfaces or irregular lamination – Expiration date and birthdate – Cuts, slits, or pin holes – A photo that matches your customer – Peeling lamination or uneven corners – Thickness and quality of ID – Letters and numbers that don´t match or line up – What's your zip code? – What's your address? – How old are you? – What year did you graduate high school? – How do you spell your middle name?

MICHIGAN LICENSE SECURITY FEATURES Ø Signature Ø Ghost portrait Ø A Michigan Great Seal that can be seen with a black light Ø Laser-perforated lettering: “MICH” Ø Tri-color image of a bridge and the word “Michigan” that appears and disappears when viewed from different angles

MICHIGAN LICENSE SECURITY FEATURES Ø Laser perforation Ø Ghost image visible under UV light Ø Date of birth visible under UV light

Checking Identification Read Behavior In addition to these steps, take a moment to pay attention to the behavior of your potential customer. Are they acting nervous? Avoiding eye contact? Misdirecting your attention? These can be indicators that someone is trying to deceive you. Trust your instincts. If you’re unsure, refuse service.

Identifying Second Party Sales An illegal “second-party sale” is when someone of legal age purchases alcohol for a minor. Watch carefully for indicators for both on-premise and off-premise sales. On-premises indicators: • Party of two or more young people enter, but only one approaches the bar to order enough drinks for everyone. • Parent with teen child ordering more than one drink at a time. • Customer purchasing a drink but setting it down in front of someone else.

Identifying Second Party Sales Indicators Off-premises (stores, markets): • Young people outside the establishment approaching patrons before they enter, especially if they offer cash. • Customers who enter with cash in hand, purchasing unusually sweet and/or inexpensive drinks, especially when loitering young people are within 30 feet of the store’s entrance. • Groups of young people browse alcohol together, then all but one of them leave before a purchase. • Two customers attempting to purchase, one claims not to have his wallet, other customer volunteers to purchase both drinks.

Refusing Service When it comes to refusing service, your judgment is the standard. You have the right to refuse service if you are suspicious, even if the customer presents multiple forms of identification. That’s because you are legally responsible for all sales. In addition, your employer is subject to serious fines and penalties when any server provides alcohol to a restricted individual, up to and including loss of their liquor license. Play it safe.

Refusing Service If you decided to refuse someone service, remember the techniques we’ve already learned: Ø Keep your tone and language friendly. Ø Do not embarrass them. Ø Make sure they understand it is no longer up for discussion. Ø Record the incident in the log.

Confiscation (Don’t do it. ) Do not confiscate an ID card Do not confiscate car keys If you believe alerting the authorities is warranted, it’s okay to inform the customer that you’ll be calling the police to check an ID. If the person wants to take his or her ID and leave, return the card and let them. If an intoxicated customer indicates an intention to drive, offer to help them get another ride home. Write the incident in your event log. If they insist on driving anyway, call the police immediately.

Penalties Remember: The legal responsibility rests with you! Serving alcohol to minors is a misdemeanor in the state of Michigan. Servers and licensees can be punished by up to 6 months in jail, a fine of up to $500, or both. Licensed establishments which provide alcohol to a minor or intoxicated person are also subject to administrative penalties of up to $1, 000 per violation. Alcohol licenses will be suspended or revoked for three violations within a 24 month period.

Penalties Licensees also face penalties for the sale of alcohol not purchased through the Michigan Liquor Control Commission or one of its authorized agents. Fines are up to $2, 500 per violation, and the following license penalties: First violation: 1 -30 day license suspension Second violation: 31 -90 day license suspension Third violation: Revocation of license

Penalties Licensees who allow the purchase of alcohol with food assistance program benefits also put their license at risk: First violation: 30 -60 day suspension of license Second violation: 61 -120 day suspension of license Third violation: Revocation of license

Section Review Ø Serving alcohol to minors is a misdemeanor in Michigan Ø Carded customers must present government-issued photo ID Ø Minor driver licenses are printed in a vertical (portrait) orientation Ø Make sure to check expiration and birth dates

Ø Touch / Look / Ask to determine the authenticity of an ID Ø The “ghost image” and black light features on Michigan licenses help determine authenticity Ø You have the right to refuse service to anyone Ø Do not confiscate an ID or car keys