I just started my first website, www.athensbarhopper.com, which is dedicated to keeping up with all the events, drink specials, and concerts that go on around here. It's not completely done yet, but I'm working on having it 100% done by this Friday. Anyway, I wanted to do some kind of promotional giveaway where I give away a $50 bar tab to a local place. my site came with a built in point system for users, and gives points anytime they do anything on a site (click an ad, submit a news story or review, post in the forum, etc.) and I'm wondering about age restrictions with this. Can I give this to someone under 21? I wasn't sure if it was their problem for trying to get into a bar illegally, or mine for soliciting alcohol for a minor. I'm thinking it's better to play it safe on this one, and either offer an alternate but equal prize to people underage, or perhaps a different prize than this altogether. Secondly, if I did do age checks, how through do I have to be. Is asking for their birthdate enough, because that would be very easy to falsify. Should I ask for a driver's licsense scan or something as proof of ID? people might be uncomfortable sending that though. what's my best course of action?
I'd have them submit their birthday and check a box saying "By entering I am assuring that I am of legal drinking age" IANAL, but something like that might shift any problems onto them for fraud. Plus, the bar would still have to check their ID.
State that they must be 21, make them submit their birthday, and also make them check a box agreeing to enter only if they are 21. As long as you are not offering them alcohol directly, I don't think the license scan is necessary. You might want to make the winner sign a statement once again stating that they are 21 or older or offer them an alternative prize if they don't wish to sign the statement.