You work at a restaurant that has a liquor licence, but the establishment's internal policy states that staff must not accept vertical Ontario photo cards as valid ID, even though the LLCA allows them for persons 19 and older if valid and current. A patron who is clearly over 19 presents a valid, current vertical photo card. What is your MOST correct action?

Question: You work at a restaurant that has a liquor licence, but the establishment's internal policy states that staff must not accept vertical Ontario photo cards as valid ID, even though the LLCA allows them for persons 19 and older if valid and current. A patron who is clearly over 19 presents a valid, current vertical photo card. What is your MOST correct action?

Answer options:

• Refuse service based on the establishment's internal policy.
• Accept the ID, as it is legally valid under the LLCA, and serve the patron. ✅ Explain the establishment's policy but suggest they speak to your manager.
• Accept the ID but inform the patron that the policy is being reviewed.

Correct answer: Explain the establishment's policy but suggest they speak to your manager.

Explanation: While personal vertical Ontario photo cards are valid IDs for those 19 and older under the LLCA, an establishment's internal policy can be stricter than the law, but it should be consistently applied. In this scenario, the most appropriate action is to explain the establishment's policy and suggest they speak to a manager, as this allows for potential resolution or clarification, while still adhering to the internal policy that the server is expected to follow. Simply accepting it goes against internal policy, while outright refusal without explanation can lead to unnecessary conflict. The server is bound by the policy, but the manager has discretion to interpret or override it.