There’s good reason we need to show our ID cards to the cashier when purchasing cigarettes or alcohol, as they aren’t items for kids to buy. However, the boss of a grocery store gas station in Ohio wants their employees to work a little faster. So, they’ve decided to tell those manning the cashiers to simply type in a fake birthdate instead of requiring customers to show ID when buying alcohol — if they’re known to be of age. But one worker is worried this practice could cost them a hefty fine, or worse, their job.
“I know the laws surrounding selling alcohol and tobacco are strict, and any trouble with this could lead me to losing my job and paying a fine out of pocket,” the Ohio gas station employee says. While the company can probably afford the fine, the worker states that they cannot. Even though management told them to follow this new practice, they’ve been still sticking with ID checks due to feeling “uneasy about the whole thing.”
Although just filling out a fake birthdate for an alcohol buyer would probably save time a few minutes over an entire shift, Reddit users are on the Ohio worker’s way of thinking. “If you get caught, they might think you’re doing it for underaged kids. I wouldn’t,” a top comment reads. One Redditor goes as far as to explain in detail what to keep in mind, specifically for Ohio’s law regarding the sale of alcohol, ORC § 4301.61.
Simply put, not checking ID or putting in a fake birthdate won’t cause legal problems. However, selling to underage customers is a problem, especially if it’s known that said customers are not 21+. “You’re just giving up your defense if they turn out not to be,” the user explains. “Always ID, not worth losing your job over a simple action. Some people might get upset, f—k them, do what’s right,” agrees another individual. And better words couldn’t be said; doing what’s lawful is more important than what an employer wants.
