Store Would Not Sell Alcohol to a Customer With a Temporary License

We live in North Carolina. Before you turn 21, you have a vertical license. Most people have their licenses expire on their 21st birthday, but you can't get it renewed before you turn 21 if you want to get a horizontal license. He was responsible and actually renewed his license on his birthday. They only give you a temporary license though until you receive your permanent one in the mail. About a week after he turned 21, he tried to buy a bottle of wine at a grocery store. He had his expired license and his temporary license, but they refused to sell it to him. I never had this problem when I turned 21 a year ago. I didn't even need my temporary license. They said that my expired license could still be used as identification for two weeks after it expired. Is this a new law? It doesn't make any sense because you have to wait until you turn 21 to renew, and it takes a few weeks to get your new license in the mail.

If one store won't accept your ID, your remedy is to go to a different store.

When I had my license renewed and my motorcycle endorsement added, I went ahead and got the Federal ID. The DMV gave me a temporary license until the real one could be mailed. I was told at the DMV that the temporary license could not be used as ID to purchase alcohol, get into a club, get on a plane, buy a gun from a dealer, etc.

I guess my question is really about the specific law. I'm having trouble finding a law that would explain why it was so different for me a year ago than it is for my friend now. It just seems so illogical to tell someone that they can't renew their license before their 21st birthday if they want the horizontal license, but they also can't buy alcohol with the license that expired on the

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Quoting ashley3496

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I guess my question is really about the specific law. I'm having trouble finding a law that would explain why it was so different for me a year ago than it is for my friend now. It just seems so illogical to tell someone that they can't renew their license before their 21st birthday if they want the horizontal license, but they also can't buy alcohol with the license that expired on the

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Licensing laws are one thing.

Whether a store sells to any given customer at any given time is entirely up to the store owner. There is no law preventing a store owner from turning away customers unless the denial is racially motivated.

In other words, you aren't going to find a law that will compel a store owner to sell you booze at any age, let alone 21.

Your option, if you don't like the store's policy is to shop elsewhere. And if you get the same reaction at every store maybe that's telling you not to be in such a hurry to buy booze.

You can go to the store and ask them about their ID policies, if you wish to do so. If they choose to answer, you may learn why they rejected the ID.

What the law says is that alcohol retailers cannot sell alcohol to anyone under age 21 and that retailers must verify the ID of those buying alcohol to ensure that they do not sell to persons under age 21. But the law does not require that retailers sell alcohol to persons age 21 or older; that is up to the retailer. So if the retailer is not comfortable with the ID presented for any reason, it may certainly decline the sale even if the sale would have been legal to do.

Okay. Thanks everyone! I guess the retailers are more strict now than when I turned 21.

There are good reasons NOT to accept an expired or temporary license. It's one of the things they teach you in responsible servers course. It's the server's NECK that is going to be charged with a CRIME if he sells to a minor.

what if there is a backlog and you applied on time for your renewed licenses and you need to travel on an airplane. The TSA would accept the Temporary License along with another valid form of ID such as a Student Body Card or Costco Card with your Photo and Name on it.

The TSA could easily look up your information in the Government Database to see that your ID is valid but due to a backlog the temporary license would allow you to have all rights as a permanent license would.

As for buying alcohol again any smart employee would see the validity of the temporary license and see if you meet the age requirements to purchase alcohol. Like others have stated if a store refuses to sell you alcohol and they are within their right to do so go to another store until you are successful. Politely ask for a manager and explain that it takes time for the permanent license to be issued.

In all honesty it would be great if the DMV could just issue on the spot permanent license at the booth after you pass the Driver's test or renew it whether online or in person so that way you don't have to worry about a temporary license but this is for another thread and our government has lots to take care of as it is.

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Quoting travelplus

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In all honesty it would be great if the DMV could just issue on the spot permanent license at the booth after you pass the Driver's test or renew it whether online or in person so that way you don't have to worry about a temporary license but this is for another thread and our government has lots to take care of as it is.

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Some states and DC do issue the actual license on the spot and don’t generally give out temporary licenses. Like lots of things, this varies from state to state.

A merchant isn't REQUIRED to sell you no matter how just you feel and what the TSA does. We are taught that if there is any possibility that the identification may not prove that the purchaser is 21, that we should deny to sell to them. Again, you are inconvenienced but the merchant is the one that's going to end up with a CRIMINAL RECORD if he screws up.