What’s on Your TO DO List?
See We Card’s Suggestions for Compliance
Setting up a TO DO list for compliance with underage access laws is very helpful to getting the job done right. Here are some suggestions for an annual TO DOs list to set a solid foundation for your compliance efforts.
#1: Get up-to-date training for all my employees
Proper training sets your team up for success. And We Card’s variety of courses makes sure you are prepared for any situation, from the essential We Card Employee Training Course to our Refresher Training Course that keeps even your veteran employees sharp.
Add on some extra training for veteran employees and new hires with brief – and FREE -- We Card Quick Courses that offer specialized training on important compliance tasks and trends, such as:
ID Scanner Classic – a 10-15 minute interactive exercise on the HOW TO steps of ID scanning, practice with simulated customer scenarios, the A-E-R-O technique for politely denying underage purchase attempts and What TO DO when an ID is expired, the ID fails to scan properly or the ID’s photo doesn’t match the customer.
Social Source Exercise – How do kids get access to tobacco and vaping products? The answers might surprise you! Take the 5-minute training exercise to find out.
Consider ID Scanning – Watch this video to learn about verifying customers’ IDs using scanning technology.
Training Booster Course – Boost already trained employees on minimum-age requirements, Age-to-Ask for ID, a technique for denying underage sales purchase attempts and optional age-calculation practice.
#2: Have the materials you need to succeed
From signage to age-of-purchase calendars, displaying the correct materials in your store tells your customers you are serious about compliance. There’s no better way to ensure you have everything you need than by purchasing a 2026 We Card Renewal Kit. It comes complete with decals, stickers, calendars, employee guides and quick reference tipsheets that give your employees the edge to stop underage sales of alcohol, tobacco and vapor products in their tracks.
Check out our newest job aide – Know How to De-Escalate Customer Confrontations Tipsheet
Prevent Social Sourcing – Make sure you’re posting We Card’s in-store FREE campaign materials to address the problem of “social sourcing” of tobacco and vaping products (where those underage are asking adults to buy age-restricted products on their behalf). We have two campaign options, order one for every store today!
#3: Update your Company Policy
We’ve outlined before how a written company policy helps your employees know what’s expected of them. It’s important to communicate your company policy – in both written form and verbally to employees. We Card even provides you with a free recommended template to help you get started on creating your own company policy.
#4 Review your state’s requirements and FDA requirements of retailers
State law can change so it’s important to take some time and review your state’s requirements. We Card has state law summaries along with summaries of FDA requirements of retailers, including any state law signage requirements. It only takes a few minutes, and it could save you headaches in the future. (We Card includes these summaries in our Employee Training Course.)
#5 Stress test your store with mystery shopping to gauge employee performance
Want to make sure your store employees are ready for proper compliance? We Card offers ID CHECK-UP, our bi-monthly mystery shopping program to help you see if your store’s employees are “carding” for age-restricted products (tobacco, alcohol, e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches). You can easily sign up online and register your store for the program, then review your store’s carding performance through a comprehensive online report.
With your resolve toward compliance with underage access laws and We Card’s resources, we know that 2026 can be a great year for your store. Make sure to visit www.wecard.org throughout the year for more ways to make a difference!
