# They swipe your ID if you want to buy booze or medicine now **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 18, 2007, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520 "2007-01-18T22:57:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520/101 "2024-12-17T04:46:15Z")
> [@Reallivedead-Guy](#): > > The problem is that you as a mere clerk “A mere clerk”? I bet they love seeing you walk through the door. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520/102 "2024-12-17T04:51:15Z")
> [@Reallivedead-Guy](#): > > who would have imagined that our smartphones would be tracking us? Who _wouldn’t?_ ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520/103 "2024-12-17T04:52:13Z")
I agree we’re watched everywhere. I differ with you on _legislation_. Ain’t nobody, no how, no where gonna give the information that’s there for the mining to begin. No company could possibly think about surviving in the marketplace with out customers who are all too willing to give their info in one way or another. We’re had. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520/104 "2024-12-17T05:00:21Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > For the love of all that’s holy, can someone out there _please_ start getting intrusive with my info so advertisers will be clued in? I _love_ when they get the ads wrong; I _guarantee_ you that my money stays in my wallet when I’m shown ads that I have no interest in. Show me all the ads you want for Pampers or Grampers or women’s shoes; they won’t even plant a seed for a later purchase. > [@DrDeth](#): > > Look, the main issue with scanning or swiping is that databases get hacked all the time. This. I _believe_ the law is that the supermarkets who sell beer & wine _must_ card everyone because they all do it. If I want a case or a keg, or just a six or two, I go to the distributor where I haven’t been carded in decades. Similarly if I want a bottle or an entire case of hard alcohol, I’m not carded at the state store; yup, you read that right, everyone working there is a state employee in a monopoly business. but if I want up to two six packs or 4 bottles of wine from the grocery store, not only must I make those as a separate transaction at a separate register from the rest of my groceries but they require that they scan my ID & no one can tell me what they’re doing. Are they just looking at the date on the back encoded in the mag stripe? Are they making a call out to the state to make sure it matches their records? Is it a self-contained, air-gapped system or is it potentially hackable? Target, Home Despot, Experian & others all thought they were hack proof but they all got hacked. Alll the info on our DLs are a hacker’s wet dream to get. I’ll get my beer at a place that doesn’t make me that vulnerable TYVM. > [@Smapti](#): > > > [@DrDeth](#): > > > > And what is your liability when you get hacked and all that info is stolen and used for theft? > > I don’t lose my job if we get hacked and the company doesn’t lose its liquor license. Those things DO happen if we sell to an underage person. You might lose your job & the store close if there are sufficient damages in the class action lawsuit for everyone who was identity thefted > [@Smapti](#): > > Got a Safeway rewards card? Guess what! The store has your address. I have never once given my real address on a loyalty / rewards card. They get info on a customer but there’s nothing there that can tie it back to me being that customer. > [@Smapti](#): > > > [@DrDeth](#): > > > > How does scanning stop fake or stolen IDs? > > Fake IDs don’t scan. If all your store is doing is scanning the info on the back I wouldn’t be surprised if some college kid figured out how to make a fake one making them old enough to buy booze, & if you’re going out to the state to confirm, then your system _is_ hackable & what do you do when the state is down or there’s a comms issue getting to them? Do you deny the sales or tell your clerks to manually look at the birthdate? ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520/105 "2024-12-17T05:01:46Z")
I said above if they want to or want me to flout store policy: Don’t let the door hit 'em in the ass on thevway out. really wouldn’t care if the type of person who throws their own personal tantrum_every damn time I tell 'em I have to scan id_ didn’t darken our door again evah. It’d make most my shifts better. By the way management laughs at this shit too. The customers never hear it from us, more’s the pity. So their very important (money spending) feelings aren’t hurt by our “impropriety.” Oh, the ass kissing we perform every day in our lowly onferior positions. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520/106 "2024-12-17T05:04:59Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I bet they love seeing you walk through the door. I know right? I wonder if he sees some of them hurry to the restroom/ cooler/ anywhere elese. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520/107 "2024-12-17T05:14:21Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > If all your store is doing is scanning the info on the back I wouldn’t be surprised if some college kid figured out how to make a fake one making them old enough to buy booze A fake that good would fool anyone whether they scanned the barcode or not. At least this way we can prove we did everything we reasonably could to ensure that the person buying was age-appropriate. > [@Spiderman](#): > > what do you do when the state is down or there’s a comms issue getting to them? That’s not how barcode readers work. What’s on the back is just a binary encoding of what’s on the front. No contact with the state required. The only thing the POS is doing is reading the DOB and verifying that it’s an appropriate date. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520/108 "2024-12-17T05:25:06Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > The only thing the POS is doing is reading the DOB and verifying that it’s an appropriate date. Interesting. The state _could have_ thrown in digital signatures, contactless smart chips, biometrics, whatever, if it wanted. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520/109 "2024-12-17T05:37:37Z")
Moderating: > [@Reallivedead-Guy](#): > > The problem is that you as a mere clerk, > [@Smapti](#): > > “A mere clerk”? > > I bet they love seeing you walk through the door. > [@Sylvanz](#): > > I know right? I wonder if he sees some of them hurry to the restroom/ cooler/ anywhere elese. This is getting overly personal. This thread is in MPSIMS. Please don’t insult other posters, and please don’t respond to insults here, just report them. Otherwise, it all escalates. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520/110 "2024-12-17T20:53:32Z")
> [@Sylvanz](#): > > Then I suggest you don’t drink or smoke. It isn’t universal, but it’s moving in that direction. The consequences to us are just too high. I dont smoke, and I rarely drink. But my wife works at Ralphs and they only scan for younger people, if that, and not at Bevmo. So I just dont shop at target. > [@Reallivedead-Guy](#): > > The problem is that you as a mere clerk, are likely not even aware of the possibility that the store, the retailer, or the state, may be collecting the other information in that subtle little click of the handy dandy laser wand and collecting all of the information on my license as well. Have you ever, (as a clerk) examined the code that runs your registers? Do you know factually that it does or does not collect such data. . It certainly at least stores your DoB which is moderately hard for scammers to get. And sure, the clerks can’t know what info is stored. Mind you, they are likely assured that other stuff isnt. But Target did. > [@Spiderman](#): > > I _believe_ the law is that the supermarkets who sell beer & wine _must_ card everyone because they all do it. Not in CA. Only if you look under 30? 35? anyway something like that. > [@Spiderman](#): > > I’ll get my beer at a place that doesn’t make me that vulnerable TYVM. Right. > [@Spiderman](#): > > You might lose your job & the store close if there are sufficient damages in the class action lawsuit for everyone who was identity thefted Could happen. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520/111 "2024-12-17T21:45:55Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > That’s not how barcode readers work. What’s on the back is just a binary encoding of what’s on the front. No contact with the state required. The only thing the POS is doing is reading the DOB and verifying that it’s an appropriate date. I don’t know, but I’m guessing DoB is just one field of many that can be scanned in the same block. I’m guessing that it’s not a segregated field all by itself (meaning you could only have access to DoB & nothing else, not name & address or height/weight/hair & eye colors), which means that anyone who hacks into the system can then read any piece of information on the mag stripe on the back of my license. The _same chain_, in another state (so different laws) you can buy beer at the self checkout (we _can’t_ buy it there), the clerk just needs to come over & type in your DoB, but they’ll just input whatever we tell them it is (granted we don’t look close to 21); they’re not even looking at the _front_ of a license. > [@DrDeth](#): > > Not in CA. Only if you look under 30? 35? anyway something like that. Supermarkets are a different type of license & every supermarket (4 different chains that I go to on a somewhat regular basis) card _everyone_, including white-haired little old ladies who appear to be well past social security age. I’m unclear if the laws state they must card anyone who looks less than 35 or they must card everyone. I have poked around trying to figure it out but it’s more time than I’m willing to invest. I just know I can go somewhere else & purchase significantly more & never even think about being carded. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2024, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520/112 "2024-12-18T01:48:34Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Supermarkets are a different type of license & every supermarket (4 different chains that I go to on a somewhat regular basis) card _everyone_, including white-haired little old ladies who appear to be well past social security age. I’m unclear if the laws state they must card anyone who looks less than 35 or they must card everyone. [Checking Identification | Alcoholic Beverage Control](https://www.abc.ca.gov/education/licensee-education/checking-identification/#:~:text=You%20are%20never%20required%20to,the%20sale%20of%20alcoholic%20beverages). _If you have any doubts about an identification, you should refuse the sale of alcoholic beverages… Good I.D. Policies_ _The following are some good ID policies:_ _Ask for ID from anyone who appears youthful. If someone asks why you are checking their ID, let them know that it’s your store policy to check ID’s for anyone that appears youthful and possibly under the age of 21._ ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2024, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520/113 "2024-12-18T06:44:42Z")
I used to pick up beer for Mr.Wrekker at the Big Liquor emporium on the county line. They carded me and every sucker that walked in the door. And they are related to Mr. Wrekker. These out of the way places and small Mom and Pop joints guard those Liquor lisc. religiously. Some scan some type. But, numbers go in. What do you people do when doctors offices/hospitals ask to make a copy of your insurance and picture ID? I think we copied peoples ID when they came to get a library card. It’s been a couple years. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2024, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520/114 "2024-12-18T11:06:39Z")
It’s really a basic conspracy theory/urban legend adjacent. They are scanning your id, thus they’re tracking you. See it _could_ be true, so take steps to avoid it. Coplain to the cashier, never darken their doors again. Eventually all stores will card/scan everyone to cya. There is so much pressure put on cashiers and stores to just _know_ when someone is too young, too drunk etc. My training video for tobacco and alcohol is an hour long. I have to watch It two times a year, and I’ve been doing this for 18 1/2 years. The video goes into great detail about the stages of inebriation. It also features lots of associates being hauled out in handcuffs. Too many people think it’s fun, to come in and pull the wool over the eyes of the person working there. If carding everyone who comes in for alcohol and smokes keeps me out of jail bonus. You can go elsewhere, but the choices are getting more limited, as the problem of underage drinking gets dumped on low wage cashiers. ---
**Author:** ![Strenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@Strenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strenger)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520/115 "2024-12-24T14:33:28Z")
> [@Reallivedead-Guy](#): > > Not that I would expect you to remotely care. Your answer reflects the triviality you assume towards your job and customers. Do you treat the customer that comes in once a week and spends $250 differently or do you laugh at them as well? Does the store owner know of your impropriety? Actually, yes. No, we don’t deal with retail customers, but in a way, like in many businesses, we have to maintain relationships with our companies and even the individual contractors. And, yes. We make decisions about which “customers” it’s best to cut loose on a daily basis, and formally every two weeks, with all parties present. There are surprising results. Indeed, the “customer” is not always or even often right. I wish sometimes the local 5-and-10 shop played like Opie and Andy did, but that’s not my decision, nor is it anyone’s in particularly. I’m happy with my local Kroger-owned store, and damned near everywhere else “stealing my stuff.” In fact, even though I know it costs ma&pa stores and franchises more, I’ll just use a credit card or, perhaps a debit card that isn’t connected to my main checking account. WTF do I care? I may not be a smart man, Lieutenant Dan, but I can shut down any unauthorized transactions statim, with the help of my gal Jenny who is at that local bank or they call it a union and such. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2024, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520/116 "2024-12-30T15:55:12Z")
Waitrose in England, like other retailers, has to apply the “Challenge 25” policy. They may or may not have to in Scotland and Wales. That of course means at the register/till if you look under 25 you’ll be asked to present ID. No scanning, though there is a log where name and birthdate of the customer are recorded. I’m not sure about other supermarkets, yet Waitrose extends this policy to the floor workers. If you seee someone who looks too young place alcohol in their cart, you are to do the same challenge out on the floor (maybe the booze section yet alcohol is on the end-caps all over). That’s why I don’t think there are scanners yet am almost sure the name / birthdate must be recorded in a log. And just as the police might do, Waitrose “hires” (probably from younger staff else-store) under-20’s to try and buy booze in sight of an employee to see if they follow this rule. Also, in some places in the UK, cigarettes are not to be visible unless the cabinet is being opened. And when they are moving amongst the cabinets or to and from the warehouse (where they are locked up) they must travel in some kind of unmarked cart so no packs of smokes can be seen from the outside. The kids are not even going to think about going to Marlboro Country if they cannot see those cool red packs. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2024, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520/117 "2024-12-30T16:36:06Z")
One of the things that I learned from the Bryan Kroberger/Idaho murders is that he went to some restaurant when he was home in PA, well before he (allegedly) killed anyone. Not only did they scan his ID but their system keeps some info on him & even allows them to put in notes on customers; the news story was about how they had entered notes on him that the waitress thought he was creepy. Surely they need to keep more than ‘Bob Smith’ or ‘John Doe’ for it to be a worthwhile system as they are such common names. Are they also storing address or DL# to identify a person or _everything_ on your license? I have never authorized a bar/restaurant to keep my info, or make notes on me just because I wanted a drink. Nor do I have any idea what all they are keeping & how in/secure their systems are. Again, if a place like Target or Home Despot, or Experian can get hacked, do you think a little bar/restaurant has at least the same level of IT that they do? ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2024, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520/118 "2024-12-30T17:07:06Z")
Just checked the Waitrose Rules. It’s been a while and was only a nighttime replenisher so I didn’t have to deal with customers but still had to pass their tests. If you have legal-age ID then you are free to purchase tobacco, alcohol, fireworks, solvents and knives. If not, there is a “Refusals” book where you can put in the product, a name and/or description of the not-today-buyer and an observation, “He asked me if I _enjoy_ knives” and that log is to be hidden away. I remember the “fighting fires” section quiz asked: "You see a wooden pallet with cardboard on fire. Which extinguisher(s) should be used? (check all that apply) and there was powder, foam, CO2, Water and Wet Chemical. I correctly checked foam and water. Wrong answer! I did the quiz again just in case I had mis-clicked. Nope, wrong again. Uhhhmmm…are they suggesting only water here? Foam would be fine. But okay, just water and I passed. Next time I see a towering inferno of cardboard and there’s only foam extinguishers to be had, I’ll risk all to find the correct water extinguisher. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2024, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520/119 "2024-12-30T21:13:59Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > Waitrose in England, like other retailers, has to apply the “Challenge 25” policy. They may or may not have to in Scotland and Wales. That of course means at the register/till if you look under 25 you’ll be asked to present ID. No scanning, though there is a log where name and birthdate of the customer are recorded. However, I assume that the records are only kept of those checked? > [@Spiderman](#): > > Surely they need to keep more than ‘Bob Smith’ or ‘John Doe’ for it to be a worthwhile system as they are such common names. Are they also storing address or DL# to identify a person or _everything_ on your license? I have never authorized a bar/restaurant to keep my info, or make notes on me just because I wanted a drink. Nor do I have any idea what all they are keeping & how in/secure their systems are. Right, we have no idea of what is being stored- and despite claims by employees here- they do not either- they just know what they have been told is being stored. > [@Spiderman](#): > > Again, if a place like Target or Home Despot, or Experian can get hacked, do you think a little bar/restaurant has at least the same level of IT that they do? Exactly. And target was keeping more data than needed. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2024, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520/120 "2024-12-31T01:17:49Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > One of the things that I learned from the Bryan Kroberger/Idaho murders is that he went to some restaurant when he was home in PA, well before he (allegedly) killed anyone. Not only did they scan his ID but their system keeps some info on him & even allows them to put in notes on customers; the news story was about how they had entered notes on him that the waitress thought he was creepy. Cite (NBC article but there are plenty of others stating the same thing) - [Jordan Serulneck, 34, lives in Center Valley, and is owner of Seven Sirens Brewing Company. Serulneck says Kohberger came to his brewery a few times and female staff would often complain about his behavior. Serulneck said the brewery is located in a college town and it’s not unusual for them to get “unusual characters,” but he remembered Kohberger from some interactions he had with female patrons and staff. He said Kohberger often come by himself, sit at the bar and be “observing and watching.” Serulneck said staff scans everyone’s ID’s and they have a system where they can add notes about a patron that pop up whenever the ID is scanned. “Staff put in there, ‘Hey, this guy makes creepy comments, keep an eye on him. "](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/idaho-police-chief-regrets-lack-transparency-early-stages-probe-slayin-rcna63822) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-swipe-your-id-if-you-want-to-buy-booze-or-medicine-now/388520.md?page=7)