Buying Beer, Grandpa? You Will Be Carded

Tennessee To Become First State To Require Mandatory ID From All — Yes, All — For Beer Purchases

(AP)  Tennessee is set to become the first state in the nation to require carding of anyone, without exception, who buys beer for off-premises consumption.

The Tennessee Responsible Vendor Act, designed to curb underage drinking, takes effect July 1. It will expire after one year to give lawmakers and vendors a chance to review its effectiveness. The legislation does not apply to the sale of wine and liquor purchases or to beer sales at restaurants and bars.

Jarron Springer, president of the Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association, has embraced the new law, saying it will make Tennessee a national leader on the issue of underage drinking. Although older customers who are obviously of legal age to buy beer could be put out by the requirement, Springer hopes they will cooperate with clerks.

Many stores have already begun carding everyone who buys beer.

John Kelly, chief operating officer for Roadrunner Markets, implemented the policy last year. Carding everyone makes it less likely that a clerk mistakenly sells beer to someone who is underage, he said, and regular customers quickly got used to having to show an ID. Most now arrive at the counter with their identification in hand.

"The universal carding law means that all retailers are on the same page," said Kelly. "There will be consistent training of clerks. Customers can expect to have their ID checked at any store in Tennessee that sells beer."

Along with mandatory carding, the new law also establishes a voluntary Responsible Vendor Program in which retailers who have their clerks undergo a training course will face lesser penalties for underage sales than nonparticipating vendors.

Responsible Vendors face fines of up to $1,000 for each underage sale. They lose Responsible Vendor status if they commit two violations in a 12-month period. If there is a further violation, the vendor could have its license suspended or revoked or be fined up to $2,500. Non-certified vendors can face those penalties on a first offense.

[reel-crazy]

Once our goverment gets all of our foreheads tatooed with barcoded information, they can just scan US at the register, too....

[rushlimpdrug]

"The Tennessee Responsible Vendor Act"
tennessee - the state of stupid.
Why stop at beer? Card everything.
Card fat people in fast food places,
card people going to "R" rated movies,
Card people at home watching "R" rated movies at home.
Card mothers having babies in hospitals. . . .

[CBSTV]

I think vendors support this general policy because they are afraid of the financial liability of selling liquor to an underaged person. If a minor buys beer at a store and subsequently becomes drunk and causes injury to themselves or others, the vendor may be in the loop.

[omega39-2009]

Your papers please!!!

[salty1954]

Resolve the clerks of legal liability otherwise the ID law is a good thing. Why should a clerk go to court because an underage bum tries to buy some booze?

[hypnotoad72]

Okay, so I'll keep my 12 year old with his phony ID from buying MGD yet shove him into the big store where I get my Drambuie?! This is insane. Especially when I don't have any children, but that's another story...

How about everyone being carded for any type of ingestible alcohol meant for the numbing of brain cells in a pointless and time consuming way? Why ONLY for beer? Who thinks of these asinine segregations anyway, those who devise the Miss (Specific-Ethnicity) America pageants?

Especially for Paris Hilton, but definitely for ALL... make the rule uniform and don't give celebrities and other role models special treatment. Maybe then will DUI rates drop... if that's the real reason for doing all this.

[mainemade]

So your going to get carded for beer. No matter how old your "appearance". Yet NOT for hard liquor or wine?? So my teenager can't try to buy a beer but he can try to buy a bottle of merlot or jack daniels?? Am I the only person who sees a flaw in this picture?

[prairiefox1]

THE SOUTHERN STATES USED TO SHIP ALL OF THE VILLAGE IDIOTS TO TENNESSEE !
YOU CAN SEE THE RESULTS OF THAT!

[drummer94]

What, Tenn. lawmakers had nothing better to do? What a waste of taxpayers money.

[nativewoman]

"The universal carding law means that all retailers are on the same page," said Kelly. "There will be consistent training of clerks. Customers can expect to have their ID checked at any store in Tennessee that sells beer."

Uh, excuse me. Shouldn't "consistent training" have been the policy all along? Shouldn't they have been carding anyone appearing even remotely to be underage?

Ridiculous legislation especially in that it only applies to beer purchases.

More "c.r.a.p" (in case the censor-bot feels that is a naughty word) being put forth by politicians to give the appearance that they are addressing an issue. In actuality, I doubt that it will have any effect on underage drinking.

[seven-pesos]

slave state south...land of bush lovers!

southerners can't live without putting their nose in other people's business.

regulating other people's lives.

i bet the bible belt christians are behind this *****.

ha,ha,ha.

war, hate, arrogance, police state tactics...

nothing good comes out of the south!

[linfinster]

Your papers please!!!
Posted by omega39 at 02:23 PM : Jun 23, 2007

LOL!!
That's exactly what I was thinking ...

This is absurd legislation!

[incog-nito]

What kind of "training" does it require to ask for somebody's ID?

[uceslady]

How ignorant the governor and lawmakers of TN are. Bush has nothing to do with this one. When did BIG BROTHER have to take over the care of children under 18 years of age. NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND has failed so this should tell lawmakers something. How come hard liquor was not hit too? TN has upped the taxes on cigarettes huge amounts also. The governor and lawmakers should all be sent home and replaced with people of common sense. John Q Public is so dumb. Citizens are giving them complete control of our lives. The nondrinkers and nonsmokers have jumped on the lawmakers bandwagon---one of their future laws will get them too. What happened to parents being in control of their own children and not leave it up to the government? Look at the whole picture and see what is happening to America. We are all going to end up UNCLE SAM'S thumb. They may one day tell us when to get up and when to go to bed. They already tell us what time it is according to the sun. The original signers of the constitution would turn over in their graves. I am sure some of them drank, smoked, chewed, spit and dipped. They left England due to not wanting to be under their laws didn't they. Did they intend for the US government to rule the people with an IRON HAND?

[drummer94]

hey worth only sevencents: try something original, will ya. Just cause pat9 encouraged ya on another thread doesn't mean your less of a maroon.

[toolmangler-2009]

I have heard it said that Tennesseans are all related, This is what happens in closed societies, Inbreeding weakens the gene pool (incest) is inbreeding. Lets hear it, tennessee.

[uceslady]

I am sure the citizens of TN are as smart as people anywhere else in the USA. It is the nuts in charge of the state that seems not to be on the same page with reality. Send them all home and start over from scratch. Joe Blow from the local coffee shop knows more than they do.They got too much time on the hill....got to earn their keep so comes up with his hairbrain idea! They need to be on the Nashville watching the immigrants.

[mo005]

Just to make us old farts feel young again eh!!!

[rohink-2009]

"I have heard it said that Tennesseans are all related, This is what happens in closed societies, Inbreeding weakens the gene pool (incest) is inbreeding. Lets hear it, tennessee."
Posted by ToolMangler

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The law may be stupid, but you are an idiot.

[bmsbms29]

Way to go Tennessee!! Good for you. Maybe all states should do this!!!


10********** for Tennessee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[aznyron-2009]

Maybe we should use that system to check illegal aliens since they buy a lot of beer and leave the empty cans on some one lawn or in the road sadly we need laws because no one seems to be responsible enough to know what is right or wrong

Well... It might be a teenager in a grandpa mask...I better ask him for ID. Hmmm..this ID looks like it was photoshopped with the teenager wearing a grandpa mask. We probably should have a law where the clerk reaches out and tugs on your face to make sure your not wearing a mask. You look like Grandpa with alzhiemer's disease Tennessee. Your state government needs to be fired. It would seem that there are more important things to do then card Grandma and Grandpa. Go get em Tennessee!!! haha

[aznyron-2009]

what kind of training does it require incog nito did you ever go to mcdonalds for a hamburger sadly the kids who work there can not add they need pictures of hamburgers and the register does all the calculating sad no wonder why our kids are falling behind will all the problems our Nation has they dream up this one do you think I am going to go in my wallet to show them my ID wrong I will walk out of the store and I don't drink alcohol of any kind and I do not smoke children mimick there parents they see them smoke & drink they do the same

[notbuynit]

Let's get retarded. Oh wait, we already are.This is just stupid.

[cfin5]

I'd like to see them put a red "DUI" mark on the licenses for convicted offenders as such too. Then forbid the sale of the alcohol to that person.

[gmond]

So from now on the one who looks oldest will have to buy booze instead of beer for the gang waiting out in the car. Yep, that'll work.

[gmond]

Actually this isn't the stupidest law - in New Jersey, you can't buy cigarettes unless you are 27. And you will get carded.

[michellem99-2009]

I feel it it a good idea. I have to carry my ID to show if it is needed as proof of my age. So if you have to use ID for what yer buying then step upto the plate and do it. It is for good reasons.

[brianbwb-2009]

Sieg heil, papieren, bitte...

[grammawhamma]

Can someone please explain to me why this is only for beer but not hard liquor?? I know alot of teenagers that like the hard stuff better...so what is the point??

[paganwitch]

So, are they also going to raise the age to enter the military??

If 18 year olds are considered too young/immature to buy beer, then why are they considered old enough to carry a fully automatic weapon?

It's just stupid.

OH and to the idiot rambling on about Southerns ... sevenpesos or something like that ... get a life.

[jcadeckard]

All of your comments are so stupid. They wouldn't even come up with such a law if so many adults didn't buy beer for underage kids. There's too many deaths that happen because people drink then get behind the wheel.

[jt_lancer]

Carding a senior citizen who wishes to buy a beer? This is more government idiocy in action.

The politicians think they can legislate away every societal ill and never consider the unintended consequences of their dubious actions.

[toolmangler-2009]

The law may be stupid, but you are an idiot.
Posted by rohink at 09:49 PM : Jun 23, 2007

I guess a Tennesseean might think that, they thing the voters of their state are id ten t's, but you have not said what qualifies me for that catagory. C'mon you can do better than that.

[toolmangler-2009]

Come on rohink, show me how stupid I am, or did you re_read my comment and realize what I was doing? If the latter is the case (wink).

[jsmythe01]

It's communism people. Oh yeah, communists hard at work. This is what our schools and colleges preach today. How to run the world and get rich doing it. One day we will all be locked up!

[themartyred]

Sieg Hiel!

PREPARE FOR THE NATIONAL ID CARD ALSO - BUSH & CHENEY ARE GETTING THEIR WISHES - TOTAL BIG BROTHER CONTROL OVER ALL OF YOU!

VOTE Democratic now before they pass so many laws that the CHIP will be in your hand before you know it. God knows I won't do it, but it's heading that way - A national ID card? Next, we're gonna get stopped crossing state boundaries and asked for our papers!

ENOUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[g2memphis]

As a 62 y.o., I think the ID'ing is a little overboard, but I do see the benefits. I only hope the store computer systems are kept up to date so my wife will not be asked for her ID when she buys coconut milk for a cake recipe just because the computer system asks for it. The product is displayed with other liquor mixers so I guess ID's are required based on the product they are mixed with in addition to being alchololic beverages themselves. This actually happened to my wife at a Schnucks store last week in Germantown, TN ... she was so pissed she left her groceries on the checkout and walked out of the store!

[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by themartyred at 10:18 PM : Jun 24, 2007

Silly person, the Dems want control of your life just like the Repubs, unless they have total control they feel vulnerable. If you think Interpol, MI5, and other agencies will let the CIA, FBI or NSA have total control you have another thik coming. When its all said and done most of those outfits will join hand in unholy matrimony and wipe out all that resist. After that Orwell, and the apocryptic books will look very familliar to the survivors.

[uceslady]

Ever heard they have the barbwire camps ready for the resisters when they announce martial law? Will the training of the clerks be to tell if the immigrants IDs are legit or a fake? Pops could have a carload of teenagers sitting and waiting on their suds. This is so stupid...typical of people who have too much time on their hands. And, how much are the high ranking officials paid a year for this kinda ***? They need to be at home hoeing the garden or shelling peas.

[soxperk]

The town I live in outside Chicago has had mandatory carding for over five years now. Relax - you get use to it.

[toldyouso21]

"The legislation does not apply to the sale of wine and liquor purchases or to beer sales at restaurants and bars. "


The town I live in outside Chicago has had mandatory carding for over five years now. Relax - you get use to it.
Posted by soxperk at 10:02 AM : Jun 25, 2007

We don't need anymore stupid laws. they should tighten the penalties for procuring or providing beer, and any other liquor for minors--because most don't buy it themselves anyway.

What is the point of this law? To drive kids and others to harder liquor? Since people are not carded the same for wine and gin, scotch, tequila and rum....guess its time for the lil kids to buy Mad dog 20/20, Night Train....or how about some Bacardi or Seagrams Gin?

This is a stupid law--most underage drinking is from kids raiding their parents liquor stash OR from kids have legal adults buy it for them. So this stops who? THINKING....not just for breakfast anymore.

[toldyouso21]

Resolve the clerks of legal liability otherwise the ID law is a good thing. Why should a clerk go to court because an underage bum tries to buy some booze?
Posted by salty1954 at 03:02 PM : Jun 23, 2007


FYI--The word is not "resolve"--which means to bring to completion. The word is "absolve" which means to release from implication.

Normally ,I try not to correct grammar or typos--but definitions left unchecked--could mean embarrassment when it really matters--like out in an interview or when givng a speech.

[toldyouso21]

The product is displayed with other liquor mixers so I guess ID's are required based on the product they are mixed with in addition to being alchololic beverages themselves. This actually happened to my wife at a Schnucks store last week in Germantown, TN ... she was so pissed she left her groceries on the checkout and walked out of the store!
Posted by g2memphis at 10:21 PM : Jun 24, 2007


Uhmmmm....in TN she probably has nothing to worry about....unless the coconut milk is ever mixed with beer. Apparently TN has no concern over the hard liquor (which mixers are used with) and only will be going overboard for beer. Still....expect a few glitches for the first year.

[effallah]

This is simply to force people to acquire a government issued ID card. No ID from the state, no booze/wine/beer for you. Other states, such as Delaware, have already gotten merchants to begin asking for this even without a "law" being enacted.

When you ask them if it's their requirement or a state one, if they even bothered to ask their management, they just smile and say they think it's their company's policy.