Alcohol Server · Handling Difficult Situations

If staff discover a patron has a fake ID, a reasonable approach (per house policy and law) may be to:

Correct answer

Refuse service and follow procedures, which in some places may include confiscating the ID or notifying authorities

  1. A Apologize and serve them
  2. B Refuse service and follow procedures, which in some places may include confiscating the ID or notifying authorities
  3. C Keep it as a souvenir
  4. D Serve them anyway

Why this is the answer

If staff discover a patron is using a fake ID, a reasonable approach — guided by house policy and local law — is to refuse service and follow the established procedures, which in some jurisdictions may permit or require confiscating the fake ID and/or notifying authorities. Staff should not serve the patron, and should avoid risky confrontation. Because the specific rights and obligations regarding fake IDs vary by location, managers should ensure staff know their establishment's exact procedure. The constant across all jurisdictions is that the person must not be served alcohol.
Source: Responsible Beverage Service — Fake ID Procedures

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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.

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