Tensions reached a boiling point recently when two customers were asked for ID when attempting to purchase alcohol in a Byrne Dairy store in Syracuse, New York. The routine request quickly turned heated, sparking frustration from other shoppers, while also drawing attention online as witnesses shared clips and reactions to the incident.
The video, which is circulating online right now, sees a Byrne Dairy employee having a heated verbal altercation with two customers. The initial buildup isn’t revealed in the clip, but reportedly stems from the fact that the female employee requested ID from the pair of individuals who were attempting to buy some alcohol. At the beginning of the video, tensions are already sky high, as you can hear the worker behind the counter yell, “I don’t care! I need your ID!“
In retort, the customer who is sporting a black fleece jacket and chinos shouts, “–the way you talk to us! Since we came in here! We are two separate customers! Yes, the [expletive] we are!” The employee isn’t convinced by his story and believes the two customers are together, refusing to sell alcohol to either while repeatedly asking them to show ID. She expresses with a wave of her hand, “No you’re not. Not today you’re not. Bye.“
As he walks away, you can hear the customer fire, “Your job is bye.” before adding a disturbing threat that’s hard to discern but it sounds like, “I’ll have my sister come over here and drag your little White [expletive] all over the [expletive] parking lot! You [expletive] ugly [expletive]!”
The worker, however, stands firm, and retorts, “Don’t hold him back. I will call the cops.” before making her own horrifying threat at the man, stating, “I will stab you.” In shock, the man repeats, “Call the cops then! Stab me? You’ll stab me?” While the heated altercation unfolds, several other shoppers can be seen attempting to defuse the situation, as they hold the man back and try to keep a distance between the pair. Fortunately, after shouting a few last insults, the man leaves the store as stunned shoppers look on.
The heated confrontation quickly went viral, and social media users rushed to the comments to share their opinions. Over on Reddit, one user asked for some context, and another weighed in, writing, “From my understanding, the guy is in the store with someone else, and one of them was probably trying to buy alcohol. The cashier probably wouldn’t sell to one of them without seeing both of their ID’s, which is why he is saying they are two different customers. While that was a crazy overreaction, I have dealt with some try hard cashiers who haven’t sold me beers whenever I had my younger brother with me 🤦♂️”
Meanwhile, over on Instagram, one user clarified where the incident took place, penning, “It’s New York. Anyone that is accompanying you must also be ID’d. Everyone knows this. You are not exempt sir. And this must be Syracuse or Rochester, because them Byrne Dairy employees do not play around 🤣” A third comment was critical of the way some of the onlookers behaved, exclaiming, “The fact other MEN stood there and did nothing is what’s wrong with this country.” while a further comment read, “Another prime example of women stepping up to help and no men doing anything. What a surprise.”
