Alcohol Server · Handling Difficult Situations

How should staff handle a patron suspected of trying to buy alcohol for a minor?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

Decline the sale, since providing alcohol to a minor through a third party is illegal

A Sell only beer
B Ask the minor to order instead
C Complete the sale
D Decline the sale, since providing alcohol to a minor through a third party is illegal

Why this is the answer

If staff suspect a patron is buying alcohol to give to a minor (a 'second-party' or 'straw' purchase), they should decline the sale, because furnishing alcohol to a minor — even indirectly through an of-age buyer — is illegal and can carry the same serious consequences as selling to the minor directly. Watching for signs such as an of-age adult ordering for an underage companion is part of responsible service. When such a purchase appears likely, refusing the transaction protects the staff and establishment from liability and prevents alcohol from reaching a minor.

Source: Responsible Beverage Service — Straw Purchases

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About this topic: Handling Difficult Situations

Managers are tested on the escalation path for difficult situations: an intoxicated patron who will not leave, a fake ID, a fight, or a staff member who over-serves. The right answer is almost always the calm, documented, lawful option rather than the fastest one. This is one of 12 On-Premise / Manager questions on handling difficult situations, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our Alcohol Server exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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How should staff handle a patron suspected of trying to buy alcohol for a minor?

Why this is the answer

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About this topic: Handling Difficult Situations

Related questions

When a patron becomes aggressive after being refused service, the priority is:

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Study materials on Amazon

Alcohol server training guides

TABC & seller-server prep books

Responsible service references