If a retail establishment sells liquor to a minor, they have broken the law. If your friend is the cashier, you might be able to finaggle a six pack at age 16 maybe, without an ID, or maybe you look older than you are. If you are a retail establishment, if you require everyone to show ID and they scan it in the register, you have proof that you tried to comply with the law. Any violation would tend to implicate the checker, if he/she accepted a fake or someone else's ID. I understand red tape. I'm well past 75, and still get carded almost every where.