What must a licensee do if a minor attempts to buy alcohol?

What must a licensee do if a minor attempts to buy alcohol?

• A. Sell the alcohol with parental consent
• B. Refuse service and request valid ID; follow policy for handling underage sales
• C. Offer a non-alcoholic beverage
• D. Call the police

Answer: (B)

When a salesperson understands their responsibility to prevent underage alcohol sales, the first step is to verify age and refuse service if the person is under the legal limit. The correct approach is to ask for a valid government-issued photo ID, inspect it carefully, and, if it shows the purchaser is underage, do not sell and follow the store’s policy for handling underage sales. This ensures compliance with the law and consistency in how such situations are handled, protects minors, and reduces the licensee’s liability. Parental consent isn’t a lawful workaround, offering a non-alcoholic beverage is a courtesy but does not address the legal requirement, and calling the police isn’t the standard immediate response to a single underage purchase unless your policy or safe-mideasures dictate it.

When a salesperson understands their responsibility to prevent underage alcohol sales, the first step is to verify age and refuse service if the person is under the legal limit. The correct approach is to ask for a valid government-issued photo ID, inspect it carefully, and, if it shows the purchaser is underage, do not sell and follow the store’s policy for handling underage sales. This ensures compliance with the law and consistency in how such situations are handled, protects minors, and reduces the licensee’s liability. Parental consent isn’t a lawful workaround, offering a non-alcoholic beverage is a courtesy but does not address the legal requirement, and calling the police isn’t the standard immediate response to a single underage purchase unless your policy or safe-mideasures dictate it.