You just noticed this now? It was already old news in 2007, or whenever this thread is from. Luckily for me, I know places where I can buy ass-pocket whiskey (or a fifth, whatever) without having to show any kind of id whatsoever, but if you can’t find one, it’s always healthier to cut back on the sauce.
One drug store I use to buy Claritin D has the best prices but the worst interface. They do everything manually, no swipes. And if I get the old lady, she has to read your driver’s license with a magnifying glass and type into the computer with one finger while viewing the screen with the magnifying glass and looking back and forth to the license.
I remember when the Claritin D restrictions first started. The pharmacist would haul out a actual big log book and you had to write the information in it.
The only time I’ve ever had my driver’s license scanned when I’ve bought alcohol is when I’ve done so via a home delivery service (e.g., Instacart); I suspect that there’s a law that requires them to confirm that the liquor is being delivered to someone 21+. I’ve never had it scanned at a brick-and-mortar location where I’ve bought alcohol.
However, the drug store always has to scan my ID if I’m buying decongestant – apparently because there’s a law requiring them to track who buys the stuff, and how much, because of its use in making illegal drugs.
Same here.
I assume the risk is someone underage uses their mom’s account at a grocery store to order delivery (most people have their login and password saved so this is trivial). If the store delivers the booze to the underage kid they can be liable for that. So, they insist the delivery driver scans an ID when delivered.
I will say, I make sure I order some alcohol on every delivery. I live in a hi-rise and if it is just food the delivery driver is very likely to just drop the food in the lobby. If I order some alcohol (even just a six-pack of beer) they have to come to my door to get my ID.
FWIW I tip well.
This is true but only if the decongestant contains pseudoephedrine. Personally, that is the stuff that works best for me but there are other decongestants that do not have that and need no ID.
IIRC pseudo is used in making meth.
Great Idea! I have been looking into ordering groceries over the web and having them delivered. Fortunately, all deliveries go by the mail boxes in the entry hallway- on the inside of a big door you can only open by typing a code on a keypad.
Then don’t.
I’m willing to bet this is the merchant covering their ass from liability than it is the government tracking you.
But, of course, it is all data and the merchant can sell that.
As has been noted by others, your alternative is to not buy booze or cigarettes and such.
Though the concept of actually needing a reason for this is foreign to me, yours is certainly a good one 
Blockquote
"SO WHEN DID WE PASS A FEDERAL LAW that requires essentially background checks and manditory disclosure of names, addresses, DL#, and physical chararistics to simply purchase alcohol or tobacco nationwide?
Funny I don’t remember, nor do I consent to having to essentially sign my name electronically that I purchasesed Alcohol or Tobacco. (I am 65 incidentally) The problem here is not just the idea of scanning my license so the idiot clerk that cannt read the sign that says if you were not born before this day 15 Dec 2003 YOU CANNOT PURCHASE ALCOHOL. . .can ostensibly prevent me from illegally purchasing alcohol.
WHAT I OBJECT TO. . is the bar, Liquor store whatever keeping my name, DL#, Address, DOB and physical characteristics on file associated with every 6 or 12 pack I purchase at the grocery store, or bottle of Whiskey I purchase at the liquor store.
No one seems to consider the possibility that if the stores are collecting the information, so is the state. . Next week I get a visit from the social welfare or Alcoholic Beverage."
CANNOT GET BLOCK QUOTE TO WORK. INSIDE MY QOUTES ABOVE ARE THE WORDS OF THE POSTER I’M REPLYING TO. M
This doesn’t happen. I suppose there is some store somewhere that does this, but I doubt it. In fact, everytime I hear this goofy pearl clutching when I’m working I struggle not to roll my eyes.
We do not ,“track you,” or what you buy. Your info isn’t collected and kept in some seekrit list. All the system does is read if the id is not expired. We have to scan every id of every person. I work there and if I buy alcohol or cigarettes, my id must be scanned.
Blockquote
I sell to a guy who buys at least a pint of cheap vodca every single day. I don’t know this 'cause we track him. He’s never received a government phone call. No one cares where he lives, what he buys, etc.
If you take your business elsewhere, I don’t care. Ranting at me will get a polite," I’mn̈ sorry sir it is store policy." After you leave? We will make fun of you. Who issues that government id that you don’t want the government, “tracking,” we will point out that you most likely carry a cell phone around with you.
All and all, the umbrage expressed by some over a simple id check amuses and annoys me. It’s a bit like the, “oh noes they are tracking me with a chip in the Covid vac!” I’d hate to be the person/ department in chage of tracking me or any other joe schome. Boring and pointless.
Tl;Dr? We don’t care what you buy or who you are, as long as you’re 21+ and your id is valid. Don’t like it? Go elsewhere, and save your ballyaching for someone whobgives a crap.
I honestly do not think the store gives a shit but your purchasing history is certainly something that is tracked unless you pay in cash. Many stores are more than happy to sell that data…more money to them.
I also doubt the government gives a shit either if you have one beer a year or a thousand.
I think the danger comes with health insurance companies (or car insurance or employers considering what risk you might pose). They can buy this data and decide you are a greater risk and jack your premiums or refuse you a job.
Put another way, the real problem here is the merchant being able to share this data with anyone else. It’s fine if they need to cover their ass for liability but selling that info on is the issue that needs to be dealt with.
My guess is that the ID scan isn’t as much to capture the data (though they probably are doing that to demonstrate that they did so if accused of selling to someone underage) but to verify that the ID card is valid.
Yes, I have felt that way in the past. Since then, I have realized that it is pretty much impossible to function in the world today without giving away a lot of information about myself, and that previous levels of privacy have gone the way of all flesh, and so I am resigned to it.
I have also learned that information-gathering by companies is much more assiduous than anything the government is likely to do, and the results of that are far more intrusive into my daily life than any government agency.
As I usually do at this point in one of these threads, let me check what online advertisers are — right this minute! — offering me:
- Personalized socks with my dog
- Senior Singles Connection
I don’t have a dog. I’m neither a senior nor single.
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?
nm. I’m too tired to be trying to read
do you really believe you’re being tracked as opposed to verifying legal age?
The person you’re replying to hasn’t posted here in more than fifteen years so a response seems unlikely.
Exactly. This is an eighteen-year-old thread, which was resurrected by a new poster earlier today, in order to vent about having their ID scanned when they buy booze.
Zombies like booze, too.
Scanning ID and storing the info?
Yes, that is what Target does. Target who has been hit several times by hackers.
I simply refuse.
Ralphs has a policy that if you look over 30 (or is is 35?) no ID is needed, and they just check the ID if not and no scanning.
Bevmo also doesnt scan.
Look, the main issue with scanning or swiping is that databases get hacked all the time.
I would have thought zombies would be killed by booze. Or dissolved in booze. Or…