This will be a pain in the ass

[Phlegm]

for the people living in Tennessee. From Associated Press:

(AP) If the state's convenience stores have their way, anyone wanting a six-pack of beer in Tennessee soon will have to prove they are old enough to buy it, even if they look well over 21.

The state House approved legislation Thursday that would require all beer sellers but restaurants to check all IDs.

The bill also would create a voluntary training regimen for sellers and all their employees called the "responsible vendors program," and that is where the legislation has drawn opposition.

Businesses that participate in the program would face lower fines if found guilty of selling beer to a minor than those that don't participate. The measure also stipulates that beer permits for "responsible vendors" cannot be revoked on a first offense.

"Our biggest concern is a reduction in fines for those who opt into the program," said Laura Dial, executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving of Tennessee, which is neutral on the bill. "That just doesn't make any sense."

The House passed the legislation on a vote of 75-20 Thursday, and the Senate approved it unanimously last week. The Senate approved the bill last week but must vote again because it was amended.

Gov. Phil Bredesen has not said if he would sign it.

The bill would mandate carding for only a year beginning July 1, 2007, unless the Legislature votes to extend it. And it wouldn't apply to sales of wine or whiskey. Beer sales are traditionally regulated locally in Tennessee, while liquor sales are regulated by the state. Beer can't be sold in stores that sell wine and liquor.

Several mayors of suburban municipalities in Shelby County, known for strictly enforcing beer laws, have lobbied against the bill because of the lighter punishments.

Mayor Terry Jones of Millington, a town of about 10,500 residents just north of Memphis, said the legislation is an attempt to shield convenience stores from local laws.

"All they're trying to do is take the ability to enforce the law away from us," Jones said. "You get one chance here" if caught selling beer to minors.

But Emily LeRoy, associate director of the Tennessee Oil Marketers Association, one of several industry groups pushing the bill, said the lower fines are a fair deal for a business that puts the time and expense into the training.

A business would still face losing its license if caught in two separate instances of selling beer to a minor. A business could also be kicked out of the program if it does not train all employees.

Chris Freeman, a manager for Pilot convenience stores, said it was difficult at first to get customers used to being carded even if they were obviously older than 21.

"Now they walk up and have their IDs ready," he said. "It made it easier on the cashiers."

[araby]

What is with the so-called inconvenience of pulling out your ID? Literally every store/restaurant (here at least) ID's for cigarettes and alcohol, more for cigarettes though. I watch people bitch and whine that they have to inconvenience themselves by showing proof of age. How hard is it to go ahead and have your ID ready just to save yourself the trouble? It's not even worth thinking about.

[Spazz]

I wonder what age people smoked and drank at when this country was founded .........

[araby]

I wonder what age people smoked and drank at when this country was founded .........

how old was Jesus when he took his first sip of wine?! probably 100, which is the same as nine in our years.

[Spazz]

Im sorry i think things like a drinking age are a joke in a free society

[DESX]

[Darcler]

The lady at the beer store told us once that she was instructed to card anyone who looked younger than 40.

[Spliffs]

I worked at a gas station where the policy was to card everyone, period. As a clerk, i liked it. I didn't have to do any guess work. It didn't matter if you were 100 freaking years old. ID from everyone.

[Gargamellow]

the age limits on drinking are to protect the young from the mistakes that are made when alcohol is used irresponsibly, kids are irresponsible by nature

i don't see anything wrong with laws that make the young safer...they are the future..teach them well..and let them lead the way.

show them all the beauty...

they possess inside...

[Markarado]

In Minnesota vendors must ask anyone for an ID that looks under 31 for either cigs or alcohol.

Here in Malaysia you have to be 18 to buy either, but I'm white so those laws never applied.

[Martrae]

Here you're more likely to get carded while buying cigarettes than alcohol.

[Hatak]

I think they should change our legal drinking age from 21 to 18. If you're old enough to buy cigs, you should be old enough to buy beer. I don't see that it'll be that big of a hassle to show your ID. Still doesn't fix the problem of contributing to the delinquency of minors though.

[Lyion]

If you're old enough to go to war and die for your country, you're old enough to have a beer.

[brinstar]

the federal drinking age IS eighteen, but states who set theirs at 21 get extra federal highway funding

also, you get carded for anything you buy here. hell, i would still get carded for smokes before i quit. so stop whining, tennessee!

[10sun]

I had a friend who went premature grey in High School, he could always buy beer for us then without getting carded.

Funniest thing is though, I figured out all I had to do to not get carded was put on a suit, comb my hair, and shave my face completely. I never get carded dressed like that.

[Gargamellow]

my grandma always said that..what lyion said

[ClakarEQ]

Wow I 100% agree with Lyion

Being so close to Canada, it never really mattered to me though