# The grocery store clerk tried to card me for soda yesterday **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 27, 2016, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302 "2016-03-27T02:25:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302/21 "2016-03-27T17:37:06Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > You’re missing forty-odd presidents, there. Since Obama was born? How old is he? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302/22 "2016-03-27T17:41:59Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > The death of common sense began in America before Obama was even born. Right through five white conservative presidents. Damn skippy. This happened to me in like 1990 or so. It’s not about regulation, it’s about dumb people, or smart people having brain farts. Common sense has been dying for about five million years now, if you don’t count other primates. ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302/23 "2016-03-27T17:53:32Z")
> [@](#): > > Huh. I thought the register prompted the cashier to ask for ID after an alcohol-containing product was scanned. that’s what happens here. Also for cold medicine and assorted other bizarre items. Most cashiers simply over-ride it and continue on without asking for ID or even looking at their customer. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302/24 "2016-03-27T18:49:38Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > There’s no law that says you can’t sell alcohol to a 70 year old person just because they don’t have their ID with them. > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > That might depend on the jurisdiction. When I’ve bought alcoholic beverages in Oklahoma (periodically since 2008, the year I turned 52), I have always been required to show my ID. Yeah, here in Washington, you’re required to have ID on you when purchasing alcohol, regardless of age. The seller might not ask for it, but if Liquor Control shows up and asks for it, and you don’t have it, somebody’s getting in trouble. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302/25 "2016-03-27T19:00:23Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > That might depend on the jurisdiction. When I’ve bought alcoholic beverages in Oklahoma (periodically since 2008, the year I turned 52), I have always been required to show my ID. Same here, and it’s actually vaguely annoying. “For me?!” :dubious: ETA: this was at the grocery store. At the state liquor stores they don’t ask. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302/26 "2016-03-27T19:32:42Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > I took a class on how to card people. If you know the person, or have carded them before, or are able to determine by looking at them that there are obviously over 30 or 40, then you are allowed to use your best judgement and served them the Alcohol. There’s no law that says you can’t sell alcohol to a 70 year old person just because they don’t have their ID with them. Colorado has an interesting twist to this, at least it did when I worked at Walmart. You didn’t have to ask for ID if the person obviously was old enough. BUT–if you asked, and they didn’t have it, you had authority to refuse the sale if you so chose. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302/27 "2016-03-27T19:55:04Z")
I don’t buy booze so the only stuff I get carded for are certain cleaners, car products, etc. The clerk only scans the stuff and if it beeps, they have to check. Only once in a great while to they ask for ID. (No one would confuse me with a teenager.) It’s a pain at the self-checkout lines and the clerk is busy running around solving all the problems those cause. I’m wondering where these stores are where it’s up to the clerk to decide if something requires an ID or not? Barcode scanners are kinda universal, right? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302/28 "2016-03-27T20:01:54Z")
Pretty much, I’d say. But they’re not necessarily all configured the same way. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302/29 "2016-03-27T20:20:21Z")
Given that I’ve seen [ads all over Chicago](http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2016/01/hard_soda_showdown_we_sample_all_the_brands_pick_a.html) for alcoholic “Hard Soda” it’s easy to see the potential confusion. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302/30 "2016-03-27T21:26:36Z")
Aside from _Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,_ I’ve never even heard the term “ginger beer”. Before reading this thread, I couldn’t have ventured a guess as to whether it was alcoholic or not. I don’t think ginger beer’s a thing in Virginia. Now I _have_ had ginger ale, and I know that’s a soda. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302/31 "2016-03-27T22:06:23Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > I took a class on how to card people. If you know the person, or have carded them before, or are able to determine by looking at them that there are obviously over 30 or 40, then you are allowed to use your best judgement and served them the Alcohol. There’s no law that says you can’t sell alcohol to a 70 year old person just because they don’t have their ID with them. This is true. However, if my employer says I have to card _everyone_ without exception and failure to do so will result in immediate termination of my job I’m going to card _everyone_, no exceptions, no matter how stupid, because I need my job. ---
**Author:** ![DrForrester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8edcca/32.png) [@DrForrester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrForrester)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302/32 "2016-03-27T22:47:52Z")
I routinely went to movies that were rated “R” before I turned 17. It wasn’t until I was in my mid-20s, going to the movies with my wife, that someone first asked for my identification. Once, when I was 27, I had a door-to-door salesman ask to speak with my parents. A diminutive co-worker of mine was once outside raking his leaves in the cool morning air - and a school bus stopped & tried to take him to school. He was unamused. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2016, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302/33 "2016-03-28T10:52:30Z")
Cigarettes, liquor, spray paint and plastic picnic knives. Most of the stores here have, for historic reasons, sections which are entirely separate for liquor sales, so I wouldn’t be buying root beer or sparkling grape juice from the liquor section. What can you buy for your car that requires carding? ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2016, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302/34 "2016-03-28T11:15:00Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > What can you buy for your car that requires carding? Stuff kids can huff. That includes starter fluid, “Fix-a-Flat” (very popular). solvents, spray paint, cleaners. Some communities pass local ordinances. Some store owners just want to avoid [lawsuits](http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=125219&page=1), even if carding is not required by law. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2016, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302/35 "2016-03-28T11:49:22Z")
Years ago when my son was 14 he wanted a video game on the day of its release. It was a violent (war?) video game. He had school, so he pleaded with me to purchase the game. I woke early and stood in line. When I reached the counter the clerk asked me if I was buying the game for myself!? It was embarrassing, but I said yes. I gave my son a :dubious: over the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2016, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302/36 "2016-03-28T12:38:11Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > I took a class on how to card people. If you know the person, or have carded them before, or are able to determine by looking at them that there are obviously over 30 or 40, then you are allowed to use your best judgement and served them the Alcohol. There’s no law that says you can’t sell alcohol to a 70 year old person just because they don’t have their ID with them. This reminds me of the DMV (CA) regulation that allows clerks to issue handicapped plackards without a doctor’s letter if the person requesting it is obviously missing a limb. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2016, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302/37 "2016-03-28T18:44:37Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Given that I’ve seen [ads all over Chicago](http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2016/01/hard_soda_showdown_we_sample_all_the_brands_pick_a.html) for alcoholic “Hard Soda” it’s easy to see the potential confusion. And now there’s Henry’s “Hard-ish” Soda. They vaguely glance at your ID but not long enough to really read it. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2016, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302/38 "2016-03-28T20:44:49Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > I’m wondering where these stores are where it’s up to the clerk to decide if something requires an ID or not? Barcode scanners are kinda universal, right? Really? Do you think all the bar code scanners in the country run off the same central computer or something? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302/39 "2016-03-29T00:49:58Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > Really? Do you think all the bar code scanners in the country run off the same central computer or something? No, they do run off computers. Computers that have the info on each item, such as if they need to do an ID check. What is the point of your post? ---
**Author:** ![Oukile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@Oukile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oukile)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302/40 "2016-03-29T01:27:05Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > I don’t remember what it was exactly, but Walmart cards for everything. Yes, the other day I got carded there. For a spork with a can opener. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grocery-store-clerk-tried-to-card-me-for-soda-yesterday/750302.md?page=3)