Carding everyone for beer closer to reality

Universal carding for beer sales is one step closer to becoming a reality in Tennessee after a committee voted to send it for a full House vote.

The bill advanced Tuesday by the House Finance, Ways and Means committee would require store workers to ask for identification from everyone, no matter how old they appear.

Sponsored by Rep. Gary Moore, D-Joelton, the measure would create a voluntary “responsible vendors program.”

The program would require extra training of clerks, and membership would make stores exempt from having their licenses suspended by local beer boards unless they are kicked out for selling beer to minors twice over the course of 12 months.

Universal carding would apply to all vendors regardless of whether they enroll in the program. The carding rule would expire after one year unless the General Assembly renews the law.

The bill would not apply to bars and restaurants, or liquor stores where only liquor and wine can be purchased.

The measure has been pushed by convenience store owners because those stores are often frequented by underage people, said Rich Foge, executive director of the Tennessee Malt Beverage Association.

Foge called a liquor store a “very different venue” from a convenience store or supermarket.

“If you go into a liquor store, it’s for one purpose only ? to buy alcohol,” he said. “In a convenience store an underage person can plunk down a six-pack with a bunch of other stuff to try to pull one over on the clerk.”

The measure passed unanimously in the Senate last week.