NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Beginning July 1, anyone who buys beer at a retail store in Tennessee should be prepared to show photo identification with proof of age. Tennessee is the first state in the nation to require universal carding for purchases of beer for off-premises consumption.
Universal carding does not apply to bars, restaurants or liquor stores where only liquor and wine can be purchased.
The Tennessee Oil Marketers Association and Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association want customers to be ready for the new [image-nocss] law. Retailers support universal carding as a tool to prevent beer sales to teens and reduce underage drinking.
Some convenience and grocery stores in Tennessee already require all customers, regardless of age, to show ID for beer purchases. Daily's Convenience Stores, which has more than 60 locations in Tennessee, implemented the strict policy two years ago. Bo Lanier, vice president for Daily's, said it has made a difference. Universal carding takes the guess work out of deciding whether a customer is underage or not, he said. We owe it to the communities in which we operate to prevent underage customers from buying beer.
Roadrunner Markets, which has 47 locations in Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina, also began carding all customers last year. John Kelly, COO of Roadrunner Markets, said customers quickly adapted to the stricter carding procedures and arrive at the counter with an ID. 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.
In addition to universal carding, the Tennessee Responsible Vendor Act of 2006 creates the Responsible Vendor Program, which is administered by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC). A retailer qualifies as a Responsible Vendor if store clerks complete extra training approved by the ABC.
The Responsible Vendor Act gives the ABC authority over training requirements for clerks while local beer boards maintain their authority over the beer permit process. Civil penalties against Responsible Vendors for underage sales will differ from retailers that are not certified.
Click here for an overview of the Tennessee Responsible Vendor Act.
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