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Alcohol Server · Checking Identification

What is a good practice when examining an ID to confirm age?

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

Check the date of birth and expiration, verify the photo matches, and feel the card for alterations

  1. A Trust any ID that looks official
  2. B Check the date of birth and expiration, verify the photo matches, and feel the card for alterations
  3. C Only look at the photo
  4. D Glance at it quickly

Why this is the answer

Good ID-checking practice includes verifying the date of birth (to confirm the person is 21 or older), checking that the ID is not expired, confirming the photo and physical description match the person, and physically handling the card to feel for tampering or alterations. Some servers also do the simple math from the birth date to be sure. Taking a few extra seconds to examine the ID thoroughly is far better than risking an illegal sale. A quick glance is not adequate verification.
Source: Responsible Beverage Service — Examining IDs

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About this topic: Checking Identification

Checking identification is the single most tested skill: which IDs are acceptable, how to spot a fake, what to do when an ID is expired, and the birthdate arithmetic for today's date. Every answer here should be something you can do in under thirty seconds at the bar. This is one of 13 Seller-Server questions on checking identification, 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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