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Exxon Complaint - Racial Profiling and Discrimination at Exxon - Buying Alcohol
Buying Alcohol - Complaint
AUSTIN, TEXAS -- Exxon today refused to sell me alcohol with my government issued residence card, stating that it's "company policy" not to accept residence cards as a valid proof of age. Considering that sate law states that this is a perfectly valid form of identification, this company policy causes me to bring the ethics and morals of Exxon into question. This seems like just another form of racial profiling and discrimination.
Texas state law on this topic can be found here: http://www.tabc. state. tx. us/enforcement/age_verification.asp
It states the following:
Texas state law does not require that a person over 21 provide any identification to purchase alcohol in Texas. There is nothing in the law that declares specific forms of ID as “valid” for an alcohol purchase.
However, a person who sells a minor an alcoholic beverage does NOT commit an offense if the minor falsely represents himself to be 21 years old or older by displaying an apparently valid proof of identification that:
•contains a physical description and photograph consistent with the minor's appearance;
•purports to establish that the minor is 21 years of age or older; and
•was issued by a governmental agency.
The proof of identification may include a driver's license
Texas state law on this topic can be found here: http://www.tabc. state. tx. us/enforcement/age_verification.asp
It states the following:
Texas state law does not require that a person over 21 provide any identification to purchase alcohol in Texas. There is nothing in the law that declares specific forms of ID as “valid” for an alcohol purchase.
However, a person who sells a minor an alcoholic beverage does NOT commit an offense if the minor falsely represents himself to be 21 years old or older by displaying an apparently valid proof of identification that:
•contains a physical description and photograph consistent with the minor's appearance;
•purports to establish that the minor is 21 years of age or older; and
•was issued by a governmental agency.
The proof of identification may include a driver's license
Comments:
Posted by Dryad on 2010-07-30:
From the same site:
Some retailers in Texas have policies requiring that customers provide proof of age for all alcoholic beverage purchases, regardless of the age of the customer.
There are some other retailers in Texas that will only accept a Texas Driver's License or Texas Identification Card as “valid identification” to purchase alcoholic beverages.
Exxon can make and uphold any *company* policy they want, this has nothing to do with Texas state law.
Some retailers in Texas have policies requiring that customers provide proof of age for all alcoholic beverage purchases, regardless of the age of the customer.
There are some other retailers in Texas that will only accept a Texas Driver's License or Texas Identification Card as “valid identification” to purchase alcoholic beverages.
Exxon can make and uphold any *company* policy they want, this has nothing to do with Texas state law.
Posted by leet60 on 2010-07-31:
+10 Dryad. In addition, the retailer must comply with state liquor laws. You cannot simply pick and choose from the specifics in the code:
"Sec. 106.03. SALE TO MINORS. (a) A person commits an offense if with criminal negligence he sells an alcoholic beverage to a minor."
The retailer, like any retailer that wants to keep their license "reserves the right to refuse service to anyone". If there was the slightest question about the identity provided, they were right to refuse you.
There is no evidence of racial profiling and discrimination here.
"Sec. 106.03. SALE TO MINORS. (a) A person commits an offense if with criminal negligence he sells an alcoholic beverage to a minor."
The retailer, like any retailer that wants to keep their license "reserves the right to refuse service to anyone". If there was the slightest question about the identity provided, they were right to refuse you.
There is no evidence of racial profiling and discrimination here.
Posted by Alain on 2010-07-31:
Excellent points.
Posted by Ben There on 2010-07-31:
Texas stores are the most picky for buying booze of any state I have been in. When I was waiting for my new TXDL I tried buying beer with my passport and I was denied. Every country in the world accepts me for who I am on my passport, but not Krogers in Dallas.
Great comments Dryad.
Great comments Dryad.
Posted by Starlord on 2010-07-31:
Ben, I don't know if you are aware of it, but Texas is a crazy quilt of widely varied liquor laws. Some counties are dry, and you cannot buy any form of alcoholic beverage. Some counties have beer or wine bars, and you can buy liquor at a liquor store, but no mixed drinks or drinks by the shot. Some places, you buy your bottle at the liquor store and take it to a restaurant, where they will sell you the set-up (glass, ice and mixer.) And some places are just like most other states. I find it hard to believe that Texas has no requirements for ID for buying alcohol. Arizona has set standards for buying booze, and resident alien cards is not on the list. In addition, if a person appears to be less than a certain age, often 35, they MUST produce legitimate ID to establish age. the clerk at a liquor store or a bartender must be knowledgeable of the liquor laws, or they can be cited, as well as the business, as they have the responsibility to see their employees know the law. IMHO, 'racial profiling' is a term which has no real definition, but is a buzz word used to inflame people's emotions.
Posted by PepperElf on 2010-07-31:
starlord.... the overuse of "racism" in complaints makes me think of the Princess Bride.
"You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means."
"You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means."
Posted by yoke on 2010-07-31:
There was no racism. The clerk was not comfortable with the ID that was given (may have looked fake) and decided it was best not to accept the ID. Better to lose a sale than to get a fine if the ID was fake. If the OP needed the booze go to another store to get it.
Posted by PepperElf on 2010-07-31:
i know there wasn't
a lot of people just bandy that complaint around, thinking it'll sway people to their side.
a lot of people just bandy that complaint around, thinking it'll sway people to their side.
Posted by spiderman2 on 2010-07-31:
My family business sells beer. By law we are allowed to accept a driver's license issued by the state, a non-driver's ID card issued by the state, a military ID,a foreign passport or a driver's license from out of state. None of this documentation may be expired and we may chose to turn you away if we are not comfortable with the ID.
I'm also not getting this line "Texas state law does not require that a person over 21 provide any identification to purchase alcohol in Texas" then whats the point of IDing anyone -- they can just say I'm 21 and don't have to show it. That makes no sense to me.
I'm also not getting this line "Texas state law does not require that a person over 21 provide any identification to purchase alcohol in Texas" then whats the point of IDing anyone -- they can just say I'm 21 and don't have to show it. That makes no sense to me.
Posted by Nohandle on 2010-07-31:
In my state the burden of proof is on the store and employee making the sale. If a minor purchases alcohol, no matter how perfect the fake ID is, if discovered the store is fined steeply and might possibly lose their license. Obviously the minor with the fake ID is completely innocent, poor baby. If I worked at a business selling alcohol there's no way I'd take the chance if there was a question in my mind.
Posted by shayen on 2010-07-31:
Regarding the claim of disrimination and racial profiling, I read the complaint and then re-read it again, thinking maybe I had missed something.
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