A Guide to Checking ID in Alcohol Service

When your job is to sell and serve alcohol to the general public, you must ensure that those you’re selling and serving it to are of the legal drinking age in Texas, 21. Otherwise, you can be at risk of criminal penalties, like fines and time in jail.

Fortunately, when you’re not sure if someone is old enough to drink, there’s a way to know with near certainty: check their identification. 

You can learn all about how to check ID in alcohol service in the TABC certificate course from trusted online providers. However, we’ve also included some helpful information below.  

Do You Have to Check ID? 

The law doesn’t state that you must check someone’s ID before you sell them alcohol. However, doing so can prevent you from selling alcohol to minors. Moreover, most businesses have a company policy of requesting ID from anyone who appears to be under 21.

You should ask for ID before serving or ringing up alcohol. You may find it helpful to ask for ID as you place your hand on the alcohol packaging in case you need to remove it from their reach.

How to Spot a Valid ID

You can’t assume that every ID presented to you by a customer is valid. If you suspect someone is underage, thoroughly inspect the ID they provide. 

• Ensure it’s not expired
• Look for signs of alteration or forgery
• Make sure it’s issued by a government agency
• Be confident that the physical description and photo are consistent with the person you’re about to serve 
• Ensure the birth date on the ID is 21 years or older

What Identification Is Valid in Texas?

Multiple forms of identification are valid in the state of Texas. Brush up on what they are so you know how to inspect them properly for validity. 

• Texas driver’s license 
• Military ID
• An out-of-state driver’s license or ID
• A Texas ID card
• United States passport 

Businesses can set their own policies on what IDs they accept, so keep this in mind when being presented with IDs by your customers.

When checking a Texas driver’s license and ID card, look for: 

• Laser engraving
• REAL ID Compliant
• Tactile text
• A polycarbonate card body 
• Identifiers for organ donor, communication impediment, and veteran/disabled veteran

Adult and under-21 driver’s licenses in Texas will also have endorsements, restrictions, classifications, a magnetic stripe, and a PDF 417 barcode. When viewed under UV light, driver’s licenses display the Texas State Seal and three stars in blue, silver, and gold colors.

If you’re inspecting a Texas REAL ID and driver’s license, look for:

• Texas roadside assistance number
• Medical information
• Magnetic strip
• Endorsements
• A barcode 
• Restrictions 

When inspected with a UV light, it has the state seal with blue, silver, and gold stars. 

Adult driver’s licenses also have:

• Overlapping data
• Color variance printing
• A REAL ID compliance star 
• Fine line printing
• Security design printing
• Variable rainbow text
• 1D and 2D barcodes
• A magnetic stripe
• A writable back

When inspecting an out-of-state form of ID that your establishment approves as part of their company policy, ensure it:

• Has been issued by a government agency
• Has a physical description and picture consistent with the customer
• Shows a date of birth of at least 21 years old

How to Spot a Fake ID

You now know what to look for to confirm that a form of ID is legitimate. But how do you spot a fake? While fake IDs are illegal to use, possess, and make, they still exist. Here are a few helpful ways to spot them: 

• Fuzzy printing on numbers and/or letters
• Red eyes in the picture
• Bumpy surfaces around the height, weight, date of birth, or photo 
• Phrases like ‘This is not a valid ID,’ Not a Government Document,’ and ‘For amusement purposes only’ are printed on the card 
• The word ‘Duplicate’ printed on the card that indicates it’s one of two licenses for an individual 

If an ID looks legitimate, it can still be forged or belong to someone other than the person presenting it. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, such as what the address and zip code are on the card. You can also request alternative forms of ID.

Learn More About Checking IDs with Help from TABC Pronto

Checking identification is one of the most effective ways to prevent the sale of alcohol to minors. If you want to learn more about viewing customers’ ID and how to spot the signs of fake ID, complete the TABC certification course with TABC Pronto. 

Our 100% online course is approved by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and can help you become the confident and knowledgeable service industry worker you deserve to be.