Safeway not taking Passports as IDs anymore

[svanronsele]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA

Hi,

I would like to know why we cannot use passports to buy alcohol in Californian Safeways anymore?
The cashier told me it was a "corporate" thing.

Thanks!

Sophie

 

[Zigner]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA

Hi,

I would like to know why we cannot use passports to buy alcohol in Californian Safeways anymore?
The cashier told me it was a "corporate" thing.

Thanks!

Sophie

It sounds to me like "Corporate" has decided that passports shall not be accepted by their stores as ID any more.

This is not a "legal" matter. Contact the folks at Safeway's "Corporate" and ask them...

 

[justalayman]

while a passport is a legally acceptable means of identification, I do not believe a merchant must accept any given form of identification. They are the entity that is criminally charged for selling alcohol to under age persons so I would believe they have the right to make what ever decision they feel they need to to protect themselves. I do not believe the state mandates they accept any specific form of ID or disallow the merchant from rejecting any identification they believe to be suspect.

 

[CdwJava]

Agreed.

This is a policy decision of the business, NOT state law in California. A passport IS considered legally valid ID for most things.

- Carl

 

[jenny001]

Scientists have discovered that alchol drinking in any degree is harmful.

 

[Mass_Shyster]

Scientists have discovered that alchol drinking in any degree is harmful.

They also claim a glass of red wine a day is good for your heart, and that the benefits of that glass outweighs the harm.

But.... It sure is a lot of fun.

 

[HomeGuru]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA

Hi,

I would like to know why we cannot use passports to buy alcohol in Californian Safeways anymore?
The cashier told me it was a "corporate" thing.

Thanks!

Sophie

**A: why are you asking us? We are legal minds not Safeway corporate management. Your post drives me to drink. Shop elsewhere.

 

[svanronsele]

Hey thank you for the help. Very interesting to find this out--it's not the case in all countries. Some countries (like Brazil and possibly France) actually require that certain forms of id be considered valid. So, in Brazil, it would be illegal for a store to implement the policy that it flat-out rejects officially recognized identification. I guess the corporation reigns in the US, so I shouldn't be surprised!
Also, I thought perhaps in the US there might be a constitutional issue at stake--is it not illegal to discriminate based on national origin? Foreigners who are visiting de facto cannot buy alcohol from Safeway, since they do not have a way of obtaining a US-issued ID. Anyways, seems like this probably doesn't apply, based on the responses.
Again, thanks!

 

[Country Living]

Buy elsewhere. You're confusing "rights" with "privileges".

 

[Zigner]

Foreigners who are visiting de facto cannot buy alcohol from Safeway, since they do not have a way of obtaining a US-issued ID.

I'll betcha my dad could buy alcohol at any safeway in the country without having to show ANY ID

 

[Country Living]

It's rough when you're 21 and the only booze store near your apartment/dorm room is a store that won't accept your only ID. Bummer.

 

[Isis1]

**A: why are you asking us? We are legal minds not Safeway corporate management. Your post drives me to drink. Shop elsewhere.

one of the signs of alcoholism..blaming someone else....

 

[Isis1]

I'll betcha my dad could buy alcohol at any safeway in the country without having to show ANY ID

dude.....i got carded last night. i'm 32!!! with four kids. they were with me!!! i have grey hair!! it was my birthday....so i was laughed at when i said i was 31. since my paper license wasn't a valid form of ID. it was my renewal year! DMV confiscated my old one!!

 

[an.foo]

Some countries (like Brazil and possibly France) actually require that certain forms of id be considered valid. So, in Brazil, it would be illegal for a store to implement the policy that it flat-out rejects officially recognized identification. I guess the corporation reigns in the US, so I shouldn't be surprised!

Same goes for Sweden. Obviously my passport is infinitely more difficult to falsify, but, as the guy behind the counter said, "It doesn't have all the information"
Me: Like what?
Him: [Looking at my passport for a while before:] Like your weight.
Me: You need my weight for me to buy whiskey?

As is turns out from this discussion thread it is Safeway's prerogative to reject an official, government issued ID. However the same form of ID is perfectly viable when you go to the DMV and get an ID from the state of California. I have been baffled repeatedly by the hoops us foreigners have to jump through to be able to do the most mundane things here.

Thank you for clearing this up for us. I will contact Safeway corporate.