I waited while she called over someone with more authority who immediately accepted my US passport card and did not ask me to lift my mask. She rang me up talking about how "they have to be really strict" and I just ignored her. The drinking age here IS EIGHTEEN my friends. - ThreadSky

violetblue.bsky.social • 160 days ago

I waited while she called over someone with more authority who immediately accepted my US passport card and did not ask me to lift my mask.

She rang me up talking about how "they have to be really strict" and I just ignored her. The drinking age here IS EIGHTEEN my friends.

Comments

hroethgar.bsky.social•160 days ago

Most places check “anyone who looks under 25” so either that’s a compliment or a ratlicker.

ashleykiwi.bsky.social•160 days ago

I'm glad she checked. Asking you to take off your mask was a mistake, as was refusing your US passport. But it's great the supervisor approved you straight away. Seems like a good outcome to me. BTW, you do know supermarkets check everyone who looks 25 or younger don't you? Take it as a compliment

kyhwana.org•160 days ago

A US passport CARD is not a US passport so legally speaking they were right to refuse it. If it was an actual passport that would have been another matter

ashleykiwi.bsky.social•160 days ago

You learn something every day!

violetblue.bsky.social•160 days ago

FWIW along with my passport card I also handed her my Hawaii driver's license (I carry both) but she ignored it and handed it back.

kyhwana.org•160 days ago

Yeah, overseas drivers licenses aren't generally accepted here either (I've had the opposite in the USA, they wouldn't accept my NZ drivers license, had to be passport)

notsailingalone.bsky.social•160 days ago

Unfortunately, she wouldn't be allowed to take that either as only a passport, NZ driver's license, or Kiwi access card is legal for age verification.

violetblue.bsky.social•160 days ago

FYI they did accept it this time and have done so in the past several times. So have many other clerks including in Auckland, Hamilton, Cambridge, Wellington and other locations I have purchased alcohol. More importantly, she did not ask me for ID *at all* but only to lower my mask.

sjponeill.bsky.social•160 days ago

If you look over 25, they do not have to ask for ID, although some places remove the doubt and ask everyone for ID.

Either way you would have to briefly unmask...

You weren't targeted in any way.

You should do something nice for that teller who was just doing her job...

notsailingalone.bsky.social•160 days ago

I get you felt targeted because you wore a mask. Perhaps you were. But you do need to understand that all those other locations were wrong and it's a big risk for someone to make an exception. So think about being relieved you got one and understand the financial risk to those making the exceptions.

notsailingalone.bsky.social•160 days ago

As someone who worked a job in the US (California) where I had to check ID, the rules are just as strict there. The penalty on clerks who sell to minors is huge in both countries and getting caught can put a huge financial burden on the person that is very hard to overcome.

notsailingalone.bsky.social•160 days ago

Apply for this so you don't have to carry your passport around:
https://kiwiaccess.co.nz/#welcome

sendai.bsky.social•160 days ago

Yeah, it’s an issue across the pond, we’ve been browbeatened to being cop brained and not exercising reasonable judgement.

subtlefire.bsky.social•160 days ago

that and the fear of getting fired over some perceived slight deviation from Official Policy, which causes some people to go way too hard in the other direction

notsailingalone.bsky.social•160 days ago

It's not just getting fired. You can be fined and the shop will be banned for 7 days. When I lived in California, we couldn't even let children handle the alcohol by removing it from the trolley or helping the parents carry bags with alcohol out of the shop. This isn't new stuff in Ca or NZ.

sendai.bsky.social•160 days ago

Yeah, we as a society prefer to turn everyone into cops rather than improving the material conditions and reducing the attraction of underage drinking.

notsailingalone.bsky.social•160 days ago

I think most of the laws around drinking are pretty lax in NZ, especially compared with the US so it does surprise me how indignant the OP is over having to have correct ID and then ignoring the person who let her away with the incorrect ID anyway. 🤷‍♀️

sjponeill.bsky.social•160 days ago

The laws were tightened up in 2013 but place the emphasis for compliance on the licensee so might feel less stringent than they actually are.

ahafoka.bsky.social•160 days ago

Yeah the potential outcome for the staff & store of making a mistake are hefty. Big fines (especially in the context of a checkout workers pay). As has been said the IDs acceptable by legislation are limited.

I would also say that asking to remove a mask shouldn’t have been 1st step.

sendai.bsky.social•160 days ago

Laws are laxer and that’s why we should be cops and accept others being cops. Got it.

rayhayes.bsky.social•160 days ago

I get carded at Safeway and I'll be 64 this year. Alcohol & Beverage will fine them through the roof and take their license away if they miss one 16 yo buying booze so they have no tolerance for any risk at all. Just card everyone. Period. And scan their ID into the system.

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