RST Age Verification and Youth Access Prevention 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A customer presents what appears to be a valid driver's license, but the retailer suspects it may be altered or fake. What should the retailer do?
- Accept it because it looks close enough
- Confiscate the ID and call the police immediately
- Refuse the sale and decline to serve the customer (Correct answer)
- Ask the customer to sign a form stating they are of legal age
Correct answer: Refuse the sale and decline to serve the customer
When an ID appears suspicious or potentially fraudulent, the correct action is to refuse the sale, as completing the transaction could still result in a legal violation if the customer is underage.
Question 2: Which of the following details should a retailer examine when inspecting a customer's photo ID for tobacco purchase?
- The issuing state's tax rate information
- The date of birth, expiration date, and photo match (Correct answer)
- The customer's social security number
- The color of the ID's background only
Correct answer: The date of birth, expiration date, and photo match
Retailers should verify that the ID shows a date of birth confirming legal age, that the ID has not expired, and that the photo matches the customer presenting it.
Question 3: Under the Synar Amendment, states must conduct random, unannounced inspections to measure compliance with youth access tobacco laws. What does this federal program primarily aim to reduce?
- Counterfeit tobacco products in the supply chain
- Tobacco purchases by individuals under the legal age (Correct answer)
- Employee theft of tobacco merchandise
- Smuggling of untaxed tobacco across state lines
Correct answer: Tobacco purchases by individuals under the legal age
The Synar Amendment requires states to enforce laws prohibiting tobacco sales to minors and to conduct unannounced compliance checks to reduce illegal sales to youth.
Question 4: A customer claims they forgot their ID but insists they are 25 years old. What is the appropriate retailer response?
- Sell the tobacco products since the customer verbally confirmed their age
- Accept a photo of the ID on their smartphone
- Refuse the sale until valid government-issued ID is presented (Correct answer)
- Allow a coworker to vouch for the customer's age instead
Correct answer: Refuse the sale until valid government-issued ID is presented
A verbal claim of age is not sufficient; without a valid, government-issued photo ID, the retailer cannot confirm the customer is of legal age and must refuse the sale.
Question 5: Which of the following is a common red flag indicating a customer may be purchasing tobacco on behalf of a minor (a 'straw purchase')?
- The customer is buying a large quantity for a wholesale business
- A group of young-looking individuals waits outside while one adult makes the purchase (Correct answer)
- The customer pays with cash instead of a credit card
- The customer asks for a specific brand not commonly carried by the store
Correct answer: A group of young-looking individuals waits outside while one adult makes the purchase
A group of minors waiting outside while one individual (possibly an adult) buys tobacco is a classic indicator of a straw purchase, where tobacco is bought by an adult for underage individuals.
Question 6: How should a retailer handle a situation where a regular adult customer attempts to purchase tobacco and their ID has recently expired?
- Accept the expired ID since the customer is a familiar face
- Refuse the sale because an expired ID is no longer a valid form of identification (Correct answer)
- Accept it only if it expired within the last 6 months
- Allow the customer to purchase a smaller quantity as a compromise
Correct answer: Refuse the sale because an expired ID is no longer a valid form of identification
An expired ID is not considered valid for age verification; retailers should require a current, unexpired government-issued photo ID regardless of the customer's familiarity.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of documenting refused tobacco sales to underage customers?
- To report the minor's identity to the FDA
- To demonstrate due diligence and support compliance during regulatory inspections (Correct answer)
- To charge the minor with a criminal offense
- To alert neighboring stores about the attempted purchase
Correct answer: To demonstrate due diligence and support compliance during regulatory inspections
Keeping records of refused sales demonstrates that the retailer is actively enforcing age verification policies, which can serve as evidence of due diligence during regulatory audits or compliance checks.
RST Age Verification and Youth Access Prevention 2
A customer presents what appears to be a valid driver's license, but the retailer suspects it may be altered or fake.
What should the retailer do?