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Find us on FacebookVolume 54: January 10, 2011

One Liquor Store Owner's Point of View on Mandatory Carding

Randy ZionBy Randy Zion

(Zion chairs the legislative committee of the Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers.)


Somehow we need to put common sense into this debate on the mandatory carding law.

 

Virtually everyone who shops for liquor drives an automobile to get to the store whether it is a grocery, big box chain, convenience store or liquor store. Driving should involve having a license on your person and likely in your wallet. And virtually every customer gets out a wallet for a credit card or cash.

 

I've been a package store owner since 1973, and I can tell you this is a law that is working.

 

Without mandatory carding, our clerks carded everyone under some arbitrary age. But judging age is very subjective and you anger the customers that are slightly under or over the required legal age, especially if they are regular customers or look young for their age. Consequently, clerks can let younger and younger customers slip by and then the system fails.

 

How do we know this?

 

Before the carding law was implemented, the Indiana State Excise Police did a statewide survey to check on who was illegally serving minors. Every industry sector that sells and serves alcohol failed the test.

 

If we go back to carding people under a certain age, history tells us that retailers will start having problems with serving minors. Is a minor inconvenience worth keeping alcohol from minors? 

 

When the mandatory carding law was first implemented, it was not pleasant for any retail clerk. But now our customers accept the law and we are having virtually no problems.

 

We also used to be inundated with minors trying to be served. When asked for an ID, the minor would say that it was in their car and would not return. Now, they don't even try because everyone must show identification.

 

The carding law was done for some very important reasons. Unlike other retail associations who opposed the measure, our industry has always supported mandatory carding.

 

I find it incredible that legislators are considering changing a good law because of an occasional minor inconvenience.

 

I am 63 years old-and my ID is at the ready every time I make a purchase.

 

We're asking our customers to get behind the law, and most are not complaining.


(As of this writing, at least three lawmakers have publicly stated they would roll back the mandatory carding law.)

Do You have a POV (Point of View) Column?

Project RAD welcomes letters to the editor or editorial submissions to share with its statewide audience on alcohol issues.


Rules for submission:


Please keep length to 500 words if possible. Longer submissions will be accepted if we can post as a PDF inside the newsletter.


Edits will be made at the discretion of the Project RAD editor, but will be shared with the writer prior to publication. Most edits will made for grammar and readability.


Send your post or idea to [email protected].


Thanks for your POV!

Warning: This article may have strong content

Is vodka eyeballing fact or myth? An article in The Week goes into some detail about what's described as a disturbing drinking fad in the Britain and the U.S. For documentation, disturbing videos are shown of young men pouring vodka directly into their eyes then screaming in apparent pain on YouTube. For the full story, click here.

Drug Free Marion County Organizing New Group

Are you concerned about how the sale and distribution of alcohol is handled in Indiana? Drug Free Marion County has formed a group working to address the issue. The Alcohol Regulation Action Committee is addressing subjects such as:

  • The growing number of alcohol outlets in Marion County
  • The process for granting alcohol permits
  • The quota system for alcohol permits and how it contributes to an excess of alcohol outlets
  • The remonstration process and its challenges for individuals/community groups
  • The need to shift the burden of proof from the individual/community group to the applicant in the alcoholic-beverage permit process
The next meeting will be Wednesday, January 26, at 11 a.m. Contact Nancy Beals for more information at 317-254-2815.

New Indy Prosecutor Pushes for Alcohol Blood Evidence

According to media reports, the new Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry says he believes a judge should rule on whether to allow Indianapolis Police Officer David Bisaard's blood test to be presented as evidence. Police said Bisard was drinking on duty on August 6 when he struck a group of IN State Sealmotorcyclists, killing one and severely injuring two others. Bisard is due in court later this month.


Just as this case opens, another new incident is plaguing the department with eyewitness reports from several citizens that a K9 officer was driving drunk along I-465 last week.


Internal affairs is investigating the case.

Take our Poll on Project RAD's Website

Senator Phil Boots is proposing that minors be allowed in liquor stores with adults. Do you agree or disagree?


Take our poll on the Project RAD website. 

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