The Zebra Club

Review: On 3/29/2014 around 11:30am my wife and I entered the Zebra Club to have lunch. The server asked us for our IDs and we showed her ours. My ID is expired and I did not bring my DMV print out that would validate my expired ID. I normally do not have a problem with being denied due to an expired ID. However, she explained to me had she known me or if the Bartender would like to "Vouch" for me then it would allow us to have lunch in their facility. We left the Zebra Club and I called their business to verify had I "known" someone from the business my expired ID would have been valid. I asked to speak to the manager but he was preoccupied so instead I talked to the same server who denied us service. She told me that had ABC come in and I had an expired ID they would liable. So I asked, would they not still be liable had I carried an expired ID and ABC came in while I was receiving service due to "knowing her? To that she claimed that she can just tell ABC her "friends" with expired IDs are over 21 because she "knows" them. I cannot see how that would be legally feasible in the eyes of ABC. I asked her to take my name and number and she told me the manager would call me back.I called back 2 hours later to speak to the manager. I spoke to the manager and he was seemingly prepared to dispute my questions because he spoke much more than listened. He too claimed that had someone "known" me they would have served me. When I claimed that their business practice of serving those they "know" regardless of legal IDs is a method of discrimination the owner began to start a tirade. The tone of his voice raised, he became insulting by saying I was "full of it" and mocked the idea of discrimination. I interjected to say I'm not talking about racial or cultural discrimination only to be cut off by his almost shouting voice and which he then hung up on me. I returned my call and spoke to the server again only for her to hang up on me as well.Desired Settlement: I ask for 3 things:1.) A legal explanation of their serving policy. I want to know why they can allow service to those they "know" while denying service to those they "don't know" even if we all possessed expired IDs.2.) I want a formal apology from the owner for his disrespect. 3.) *If the owner refuses to apologize I would like my complaint to be registered and viewable on the Revdex.com.org website under the BBC Business Profile of the Zebra Club.

Business

Response:

The Zebra Club, which has operated for over 25 years by the current owner works very closely with the ABC and is in good standing with the agency due to strict compliance with all regulations. Under section 25660 of California Alcoholic Beverage Control Act it states that, “a licensee is authorized to demand documentary evidence of the age and identity of any person prior to the sale whenever there is the slightest doubt of the age of the prospective patron.” Under section 25659 it states, “a licensee or employee has the right to refuse service to any person whose majority is in question.” While it is unfortunate that this patron did not have a current ID, it is our policy in accordance with ABC regulations when a potential customer’s age is in question to require current, unexpired documentation of their age. Under section 25660 of the California Alcoholic Beverage Control Act it states, “no defense will exist if the card has obviously been altered or has expired.”

It’s not about someone being our “friend” getting service or not. If our staff knows their age and has confirmed that they are over 21 before by repeatedly checking a valid form of identification, their majority is no longer in question. In the case of a customer that is not well known and not undoubtedly over the legal drinking age, it is our legal duty to accept only the outlined forms of identification. If a returning customer has proved their age previously and our staff has no question of their age, the management policy allows them to be served. Due to such strict regulations, if there is the slightest doubt among our servers about a potential customer’s age, a current and valid ID is required. Using an expired ID does not provide us with sufficient identification to serve alcohol and we reserve the right to refuse service at our discretion as outlined in the California ABC Act, as stated previously. Although the regulations are strict, they are in place for a reason and with the desire to stay in good standing with the ABC, it is important for us to comply with all of the regulations outlined.