If you suspect the ID may be fake, what should you do?

• A. Call the police immediately.
• B. Accept any ID if they are confident.
• C. Follow ID check procedure; politely decline; involve supervisor if needed.
• D. Serve the alcohol anyway.

Answer: (C)

When you suspect an ID may be fake, you use your established ID check procedure as your guide. This means pausing the sale, carefully examining the ID for authenticity, and verifying that the person’s age and identity match what’s on the card. If anything looks uncertain, you politely decline to serve alcohol and offer alternatives or non-alcoholic options while you verify. If the doubt remains, involve a supervisor or manager to ensure the decision follows your venue’s policy and legal requirements.

This approach protects you, the establishment, and the guest by reducing the risk of underage drinking and potential liability. It also keeps interactions calm and professional, avoiding confrontations and ensuring consistency in how such situations are handled. Features to look for include expiration status, a photo that resembles the person, name and date of birth matching the individual, and known security features of valid IDs; if any of these don’t align, don’t proceed.