Appendix 5: Appendix 5

Identifying Minors
(from ProServe)

One of the first steps in selling or serving liquor responsibly is to ensure the
potential customer is not a minor.

First, it is illegal to provide liquor to a minor. Second, it is

a liability risk.

In Alberta, it is a legal requirement to ask for ID

from anyone who looks younger than 25 years of
age.

Part of getting to know your customers is observing them and looking for signs that
a person might be a minor.

If you have any doubt about the age of the customer (for example, he looks
younger than 25 years of age, or there is something suspicious about his actions,
dress, or speech), you should ask for a piece of photo ID.

You do not, however, have to ask the same individual every time he enters as long
as, if questioned by AGLC, you can justify the reason for not asking.

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Acceptable Forms of Primary (Photo) ID

There are several types of primary (photo) ID that are valid in Alberta. Any of the following
forms of photograph identification are acceptable as proof of age.
♦ Alberta Operator’s Licence (driver’s licence).
Note: The driver’s licence does not have to be current to be valid.
♦ Out-of-province photo Operator’s Licence;
♦ Alberta Identification card (non-driver’s photo identification
available through private registry offices);
♦ Passport;
♦ Armed Forces Identification card;
♦ Certificate of Indian Status card;
♦ Permanent Resident card
♦ *Canadian Citizenship card (issued prior to February 1, 2012);
♦ Comparable, government-issued photograph identification from another jurisdiction
(to Sections 5.5.9(a), 5.5.9(b), and 5.5.9(c) of the AGLC Licensee Handbook ).

*In February 2012, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) changed the Canadian Citizenship card from a plastic, wallet-
sized photo identification card to letter-sized paper certificate without a photo. As of February 1, 2012 the photo cards are no
longer produced by CIC.

First, check to see that the ID verifies the person is over 18 years of age. Next,
check the piece of ID to see that it has not been altered (forged or counterfeited),
borrowed, or stolen.

Check the ID to ensure:

♦ Picture and description match the person using the ID;
∗ Take care when comparing the identifiers. Height, weight, eye colour, and
hair colour can all change.
♦ Photograph is genuine, i.e., it has not been substituted;
♦ Plastic laminate is intact, i.e., it is not bumpy, bubbled or split;
♦ Lettering for the name and the date of birth has not been altered;
∗ Letters that have been altered will show up under a black light
(counterfeit light).
♦ Size, shape, and weight of the piece of ID appear normal;
♦ Wording is accurate and normal; and,
♦ ID does not show erasure marks.

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If you are in doubt as to whether the ID is genuine,
confirm its validity by:
♦ Asking the customer to sign his name on a piece of paper.
∗ Note the slope of writing that the customer uses when signing.
∗ Look for a match between the signature provided and the signature on
the ID.
♦ Asking questions, for example:
∗ “When is your birthday?”
∗ “How do you spell your middle name?”
∗ “What is your postal code?”
∗ “What colour are your eyes?”

Listen to the responses and watch for nervousness or inaccurate responses. If the
first piece of ID appears to be suspicious, ask for a second piece of ID. Secondary
ID is only acceptable to confirm primary ID.

Acceptable Forms of Secondary ID

There are several types of secondary ID that are valid in Alberta:

♦ Birth certificate
♦ Baptismal certificate
♦ Foreign government visa
♦ Firearms licence:
♦ PAL - Possession and Acquisition Licence or
♦ POL - Possession Only Licence
♦ NEXUS card

Note: NEXUS is a joint Canada-United States program designed to let pre-approved,

low-risk, frequent travelers cross the US-Canada border quickly (for personal or
business reasons).

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If the customer cannot present ID or produces invalid or questionable ID,
refuse to sell or serve liquor to the customer. Follow these steps when
refusing service:

♦ Be professional and courteous.

♦ Indicate that the AGLC prohibits sale or service to minors.
♦ Point to any signage that supports your refusal.
♦ Take away the liquor, if applicable.
♦ Ask the customer to leave.
♦ Ask a supervisor for assistance, if necessary.

When fake or invalid ID is suspected:

♦ Return the ID to the customer and indicate that it is not acceptable. Ask for
an alternate piece of ID or refuse service. If the person presenting the ID
voluntarily leaves it on the premises, you should turn it over to the
authorities.
♦ Do not detain a minor or person suspected of presenting fake ID.
♦ Note all the relevant details in the incident log.

Violations can include:

♦ Possessing an operator’s licence issued to another person.
♦ Altering an operator’s licence.

A minor can be charged by a police officer with being in a Minor’s Prohibited

Premises, and can also be charged with consuming, if applicable.

A licensee can be charged by the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission and/or
police with allowing a minor in a Minor’s Prohibited Premises, and also be charged
for providing liquor to a minor, if applicable.

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