Can a waitress ask you for your ID even though you are in the restaurant to eat?

[Anonymous]

I have been dining in this restaurant close to my university and has never been asked for my ID but this time this waitress who has previously served me and my friends months ago was waiting the day I went there last week. She asked me for my ID and I told her that I am only eating. She still insisted so I showed her my license. I am 20 years old and I had no problem in showing my ID if asked but just found it weird that now you have to show ID even before having your meal. She is same age as of me. I knew it coz my friends chat with her last time we were there and we talked about our study fields and stuff. The other waitresses who knew me and those who didn't never asked me for my ID unless I am having a drink which I don't. So, any insight you guys wanna share on this?
Thanks!

Updates

+1 y

I agree with all your answers and i would like to thank you all for your time. The reason I find it weird was because I was just there to eat and there is no law in my state to ask for IDs before you eat in a restaurant. For liquor I understand that it is necessary as some people say I look really young. Anyways my guess is that she wanted to know more about me especially my age, I guess. We also chat for like 5 mins about her plans and other stuff lol

Updates

+1 y

Also, the waitress who always attends me when I am there is senior to her and never asked me for my ID. I am in fact planning to go their and ask her personally about this whether they have a new policy or what else. Some people may find it rude and some don't like me but it just don't make sense to me to see my ID as she could have just ask me for my name and number or other info. And yeah she is cute lol

[crazyincalifornia]

Never heard of it.
Interestingly, you may have the right to ask for her ID, if she asks for yours.
They can probably refuse to serve you, but I read you loud and clear.
One time Target store swiped my dads drivers license when he bought some wine.
My dad is like 44.
He complained but the 20 YO cashier said it's their policy to swipe IDs of all people making alcohol purchases.
So my dad returned the wine, and demanded they destroy the card info.
Of course they refused.
Big mistake.
My dad teaches at a large university.
So he told that same story, all around the campus, and published the information in the newspapers.
He estimates he cost that store alone some $20,000 in alcohol sales.
by the way, the cashier never asked if he could swipe his license.
He just did it.
Target does not do that anymore, maybe even partially because of my dad, and other totally pissed off consumers.
Yeah we don't do Target, neither does Canada.
HHHH

[Asker]

Target is being shut down anyways. It was a biggest flop.

[crazyincalifornia]

Nothing angers consumer more than "policies" that they have no say in, especially when it comes to ID.
My dad will never enter a Target store again, and each semester he has a brand new group of students to alienate against Target, which he will do with gusto.
One of these days I'll do banks and my dad, a hilarious tirade.

[XNicholeMariex3]

Wow that is really unprofessional...
I don't think what she did was necessary at all. All she had to do was ask you how old you were if she was interested in you.
That can come off pretty rude.

[Asker]

I agree with you. I wouldn't have refused her to give any info. Although I didn't find it rude as some might will but it was weird. Even my friend thinks that its mainly coz she wanted to know more about me and used her job as a trick.
Thanks for your answer :)

[XNicholeMariex3]

yeah

[-Zoe-]

Yes they could ask for it as long as there's valid reason supporting their request.. If there's none, its up to you if what or how will you respond especially if you like the waitress or not... :)

[Asker]

There wasn't any reason :) and I responded well by showing her my license which I would do regardless I like the waitress or not but she is cute and I kinda liked her the first time I saw her but a that time my friends did the talking while I was busy eating and I didn't had a chance. This was after 4 months I was seeing her working there and she remembered me which I wasn't expecting her to.

[-Zoe-]

If there wasn't any reason then she's interested with you.. You should have ask her if why she did that so you may be clarified as to her intention of asking your ID.. :)

[Asker]

To be very honest I asked her I said this to her while laughing "Okay but I am not getting any drinks" to which she said something and shockingly it wasn't clear what she said and i don't remember it properly but it was something like "its fine but I still want to see". She didn't gave me any reason so yeah. I will clarify this with someone working there when I go next time.

[DanAG]

I think the answer is no, that she can't do that. But there may be some weird law where you live that allows it. However, the manger of a restaurant will make it very clear to employees when they have to ask for an ID. If the other servers aren't asking for ID, I'd be quite confident that it's not required.

If it bothers you I'd tell the manager.

[Phoenix98]

Since you aren't drinking I see no reason why she would need to see your ID. Honestly though there are some weird stuff regarding IDs out there, both me and my father had to have our IDs swiped when we bought protein supplements. Even the cashier thought it was ridiculous.

[Asker]

Lmao that is really weird to ask IDs for protein supplements. I have never been asked for an ID for buying protein supplements and the store would shut down if they do that here.

[Asker]

And exactly there was no reason!

[Phoenix98]

Yea the cashier claimed that it was because you could get high from em or something but both the cashier and me and my father thought it was a bunch of BS.

[Asker]

"Get high on them"!! What are they putting in those supplements? Cocaine? lmao Even if they are then still its illegal with or without an ID. You should let the owner know about this BS policies of his store.

[Phoenix98]

The only thing you're going to get high on is NUTRIENTS lol and it was a chain store actually so the policy is nation wide.

[Asker]

I see.

[Ki-Ki]

Whoever is gong to hand you your drink has a right to card you.. It's their ass if they get busted so take it easy on em.. It's an expensive fine and goes on their record.. Perhaps that place had an employee get busted..

[Asker]

I agree with you on the drinking laws and I am not against showing my ID even though I am not under age. It was just I found if weird to be asked for an ID as I was there just to eat and as we all know there is no law or an age limit for food consumption lol

[Ki-Ki]

My bad lol maybe was a person with you drinking? Perhaps watching for drink sharing

[Asker]

I was alone :) and its all right.

[Kythe]

Anything's possible (might be liquor laws in your state?), though maybe she wanted to know more about you?

You could have asked to see hers in return ;)

[Asker]

Ahhaha yeah I should have. Well may be next time if she repeats it but before that I will ask one of their old waitress about this who knows me really well. And I don't know what else she could know about me other than my address, name or age through my ID. If she wants to know me more personally then she should have asked differently lol

[min_emz]

If you're a minor and it's a licensed premise, then you're support to have a legal adult with you even if you're just eating... that's the way it is in Australia anyway.

[Blondiee2014]

Someone could be buying them that's with your party.

[Anonymous]

Seems odd but I guess she may be told to do that and the other waitress didn't want to bug you.

[MeganTron]

she's weird