Conference 7.286::massachusetts

>>    Speaking of smoking, I went into Cumberland Farm's in Littleton
>>    yesterday to buy a pack and the women pointed to an article that was
>>    taped to the front of the cashier that said you had to be 27 to buy
>>    ciggerettes now. 

She's wrong.  You need to be 18, I believe.  They need to card people who
appear to be under 27.  This way, they are forced to card people who might be
legitimate, rather than only carding people who they think might not be
legitimate.  They don't get away with "Gee, he looked over 18" anymore, since
now he has to look **way** over 18 to avoid the card check.

I saw the article in the paper, and I think it's a good idea; it didn't occur
to me at the time that it might be misreported or misunderstood.

						Brian

    Smokers tend to look about 10 years older than they really are,
    so perhaps that's why the cutoff is at the apparent age of 27.
    ;-)

    
    	Well, I'm 30 and look 25, so that blows THAT theory out of the
    	water.
    
    	8^)
    

    
    
    I guess the article makes more sense to me now.
    
    I admit not paying much attention to the article because I was still in
    shock that she was looking for my ID.
    
    cj (thirty something)
    
    

    And this is from the FDA which makes it a Federal matter now with
    stiffer fines and penalties for non-compliance. The FDA will be
    conducting sting operations to ensure compliance. I guess they must've
    hired a bunch of new field personnel or is this just easier than
    inspecting meat?

my Star Market cards anyone who looks under 40 to buy alcohol (every so often
they even card me :-).  It used to be 30 but now they have a sign posted saying
that's it's 40 and please don't be offended.  I think that since they're a
supermarket rather than a liquor store the rules are tougher.  

A few years ago there was a guy in front of me trying to by a bottle of wine. 
He was in his mid-thirties and had an out of state license.  The cashier refused
to accept the out of state license and told him that only a liquor store could
accept it.  Eventually they got a manager who sensibly agreed to let him buy the
wine.

  The issue of people from out of being state being disallowed to buy liquor
at supermarkets has been an issue for at least 15 years. IMO it is illegal
discrimination. Apparently nobody has taken the issue to court because they
have always found a way out, such as asking to speak to the manager or
just happening to have a liquor store nearby.

    
    	Some convenience stores won't sell to out-of-state residents
    	either.
    

>                                                      I guess they must've
>    hired a bunch of new field personnel or is this just easier than
>    inspecting meat?

The FDA doesn't inspect meat.  The Department of Agriculture does.

    
    Mass law for buying alcohol requires a MASSACHUSETTS drivers license
    or MASSACHUSETS Alcohol Identification card (don't remember the exact
    name for it, but it is issued to people who don't have a drivers
    license). 
    
    So to legally buy alcohol in Mass you need one of the above - it's the
    law.  Now you would think that common sense would enter here, but
    techincally my 95.5 year old (Canadian) grandfather can't buy booze 
    when he come to Mass.  It's stupid and most establishments seem to
    overlook this.
    
    Next time you go into a place that serves or sell booze, read the
    sign that specifies the law/penalties concerning the sale or
    serving of booze.
    
    If they were smart, they would make the offense of trying to buy
    alcohol double the penalty for selling it.  Usually the buyer is
    slapped on the hand while the seller is fined or shut down for
    X number of days.  Most stores do not want or need to sell to
    people under the drinking age, but there will always be a number
    of under age people trying to buy.   
    
    BTW: I like getting carded once in a while, it reminds me of the
         old days ;-)
    
    Roger   

Great Woods cards EVERYBODY at the beer/wine stands

I'm over 50 and have grey hair and I get carded at Great Woods.

skip

    
    Re .11:  And all this time I thought you were just a snot-nosed kid...
    

    
    	Some places won't even accept a MA duplicate license or a MA
    	liquor ID ... it has to be a MA driver's license.
    
    	However, I haven't been carded in about 7 years now ... must
    	have something to do with the moustache.
    

    I believe the Mass id is issued by the ABC (Alcoholic Beverage
    Commission). This is used in place of a driver's license.
    
    Mark

    re .13
    
    >   However, I haven't been carded in about 7 years now ... must
    >	have something to do with the moustache.
    
    Either that or premature aging due to cigarette smoking!
    
    (just joking)
    
    Had to slap that reply in there, it was sitting there waiting!

Interesting timing, Patrick ... I bought a 6-pack of beer last Saturday and the 
lady behind the counter carded me.  First time in 7-8 years that I've been carded.

    I'm jealous!
    
    Haven't been carded in years! And I don't smoke!