Category: Alcohol Education Cards

Did You Know? TAM Cards Are Required for Serving Alcohol at Special Events and Festivals

Published on by TAM of NevadaLeave a comment

FestivalsFestival season is upon us, and it is a good time to remind people about the rules concerning all special events.

Contrary to popular belief, alcohol awareness cards ARE required for anyone selling or serving alcoholic beverages for any length of time, including special one-time events… and the TAM® Card is the one you should have. We often receive calls asking if TAM Cards are needed for individuals who will be working to sell or serve alcoholic beverages for festivals, special weekend events, weddings, and similar situations. Even if you will only be working in this type of position for a short period of time, an alcohol awareness card is still mandatory. It protects you, your employer, and your patrons.

Taking it a step further, all hospitality professionals should remember that checking for ID is a huge responsibility. Room service, banquets, conventions, limo rides, race tracks, weddings, festivals, company picnics and celebrations, concession stands, and the list goes on! ID Checking at special events is absolutely imperative – are you following the letter of the law?

Just because a participant may have a special event pass, or may be attending an “adults only” wedding reception, that does not relieve the server from checking for photo ID. Bartenders should follow procedure to card anyone who appears to be 30 years of age or younger. It is better to be safe than sorry, and helps to keep underage guests safe.

To register for an online or on-site alcohol awareness course and obtain your TAM Card, visit TAM of Nevada’s website today!

TAM of Nevada Quarterly Customer Survey Winner Announced

Published on by TAM of NevadaLeave a comment

Survey WInnerIf you’ve recently completed a TAM® class, did you remember to fill out the customer survey? As a token of thanks for our students’ participation, we enter survey respondents into a quarterly drawing for a $50 Amazon.com gift card prize. Congratulations to Carolina C., winner of our most recent quarterly gift card giveaway for filling out the TAM® of Nevada Customer Survey!

If you’ve recently completed your TAM® course and haven’t yet completed the customer satisfaction survey, we invite you to access the survey and submit your response before our next drawing. Let us know your favorite part of the training, what you’ve learned, or ask us any questions you might have.

Our customer satisfaction survey is available to both online and classroom students. Thank you again to all of our customers for your patronage and for your helpful responses. Remember to visit us on TAM of Nevada on Facebook and keep the conversation going.

© 2015 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

Now Offering Exam Proctoring for Online TAM Card Students in Overton

Published on by TAM of NevadaLeave a comment

AnatomyOfaTAMCardGood news for TAM® students in Overton! There’s no longer a need to travel to Las Vegas or Mesquite to complete a TAM® Class or proctored exam. As of July 7, 2015, we will be proctoring exams for online students in Overton on the second Tuesday of every month from 2:00pm-6:00pm at Lin’s Fresh Market. Find us at 350 Moapa Valley Blvd., Overton, NV, 89040.

The process for Overton students is simple:

  • Sign up for the online TAM® class. One of the biggest benefits of completing your training online is that the course is available to you 24/7, any time day or night.
  • Once you’ve completed the course, please call 702-397-2312 in order to schedule a time to take a short exam. There’s no need to make an appointment, and no additional cost to you to take your TAM® exam. Come prepared with a picture I.D. to prove your identity, such as a driver’s license or passport. For more examples of accepted forms of ID, visit the TAM website.
  • Smile! After you complete your exam, we’ll take your picture for your TAM® Card. You’ll be TAM®-certified and ready to work immediately after passing your exam.

We look forward to educating new and returning students in Overton, Nevada. And remember, classes are also offered six days a week at our Training Center in Las Vegas, and the third Wednesday of every month in Mesquite. Check our class schedule to find a time that works for you.

Checking I.D. – Do You Know How To Quickly and Easily Spot a Minor?

Published on by TAM of Nevada1 Comment

Nevada_DL_MinorNevada_DL_AdultUnderage drinking is a serious concern in Nevada, and police agencies are always hard at work to remind retailers, beverage servers, and teens that if they do not abide by the laws, they will face consequences. One of the front line defenses used to combat teen drinking is the issuance of driver licenses that not only contain standard information such as a photo and birthdate, but also contain additional clues that the I.D. holder is a minor. Do you know what to look for on a driver’s license to determine if you can legally and safely serve the card holder?

Like other states across the country, Nevada redesigned their driver licenses several years ago to make it easier to spot a minor. Nevada made it easier to spot a minor by switching from horizontal to vertical printing. While driver licenses and identification cards for drivers over the age of 21 follow the traditional horizontal format, driver licenses for those under the age of 21 are printed vertically on the front, and horizontally on the back. Additionally, the DMV imprints an age restriction notice on a minor’s license for any individuals who are aged 18 and under. If the card holder is under 18 at the time of issuance, the card will feature a red banner with the words “Under 18 Until” followed by the date the cardholder will turn 18. Cards issued at ages 18-20 are in the vertical format but do not include the red banner.

When checking a driver license, a hospitality worker should make sure not to always equate the vertically printed with minors only. Remember, 19 and 20 year olds will still hold a vertically printed I.D. card. While they may not be of an age to legally purchase and consume alcoholic beverages, they may still be legally of age to enter 18+ clubs and other venues. Your TAM training will teach you how to use proper diligent inquiry to determine if you’re looking at valid identification. Don’t send revenue somewhere else because you didn’t properly check I.D. Always refer to the birthdate on the front of an I.D. card, and determine if the license is expired or still valid, to correctly determine the card holder’s age, and if you are able to serve them.

For additional tips and tricks for checking I.D. and spotting minors using fake I.D., make sure to complete your mandatory alcohol awareness course with TAM of Nevada. Our seasoned instructors will teach you what to look for, and how to react. Also remember:

  • When checking a customer’s birth date, don’t rely solely on the birth year to confirm someone is of legal drinking age. Minors may count on busy servers to only check for the year of birth on an I.D. and try to order alcoholic beverages months before their 21st birthdays.
  • Would it be helpful to you to know what to look for on identification from all 50 states and Canada? Most establishments also have a guidebook, like the I.D. Checking Guide, for validating various forms of identification. Ask your manager if you have a guide like this in your establishment and refer to it as needed.

Resources