Father in Law refused service to purchase cigarettes. Tried to use his Alien ID.?

My Father in Law who is new to the USA and 55 years old attempted to purchase cigarettes at the Olympia AMPM gas mart and be refused. The clerk refused to accept his ID. The single ID he had was his US Government Alien Registration Photo ID. I believe he was refuse service because he was an immigrant as there could be no other reason. What do you focus? He felt humiliated as he was obviously over 18 years ancient. What should he do next?
I'm surprised he was even carded, but some states do require EVERYONE to be carded. And some businesses actually hold it POSTED that they only accept a state driver's license (which I have see them refuse service to those from a state that is not even 2 miles away because it is not OUR state license). I think it is because it's too sturdy for them to be properly trained in identifying fake ID's and they are trying to impart a general guideline that everyone has to follow.

If you are upset (I can understand why) contact the business and speak to the director and ask why. Don't jump to conclusions too fast, but give them a destiny to explain.
Stores have the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason. I'm sorry he feel humiliated, but the clerk may have felt the ID was fabricate, or may be under instructions to only accept indisputable IDs for cigarettes or alcohol.

As much as it may suck, he needs to get used to the idea that folks can refuse him services because of that particular ID. I'm not saying it's right, but it is one of the things you business deal with when you immigrate to another country.
Nothing. The store can refuse service to anyone especially for things like alcohol or cigarettes. Most stores scan license to make sure they are legit, so they only take license as proof. Sounds like you are trying to get a lawsuit out of this which is retarded. Is AMPM one of the stores that scans the ID's? That may enjoy been the problem...I know 7-11 scans ID's as well.

I suggest only blowing it off, and never do business with the store again.
Does Washington have a "card everyone" law? If not, and your father is law is 55, and thus unambiguously old enough to buy cigarettes, then I'd suspect that cultural discrimination was at play, and I'd try to speak to the owner of the store.

(I know in Alaska the imperative is that everyone must be carded, regardless of age, but I don't know if it's true in WA)

Richard
A green card is legal ID. I suppose he could press some anti-discrimination charges. I'd tender the store manager a call and talk to them.
Shops can refuse to put on the market anyone anything if they so like. I would use a different shop. stop smoking and/or move back to his homeland
While it's true that a shop can refuse to sell to anyone for any source, that's not true if the reason is discriminatory. If your father in law have a government issued photo I.D. with his birthdate on it (I honestly don't know if the alien registration photo ID does, but I can't imagine it doesn't), he should hold been served unless for some reason the clerk suspected it was a put-on document. What did the clerk say? Did he say he didn't think it be a valid I.D.? Did he say why he thought this?

You have a few options:

1. Write a memo to the company explaining the situation and asking that the employee be disciplined and that you be informed of how this is handled (you probably won't be entitled to know exactly what disciplinary steps are taken, though, as that's often covered by confidentiality agreements).

2. You'll want to record with state and federal EEOC offices. You should do this whether you want to actually sue or not. They want to know that this company is discriminating against legal immigrants. The EEOC offices will do an investigation and manufacture sure this if this wasn't an isolated incident with a single uninformed clerk that this kind of behavior doesn't happen again.

3. You may also want to contact an attorney to wallet a complaint. You probably don't want to bankrupt the company over a cigarette sale, but you do want them to know that this kind of behavior is illogical, so ask for a modest amount. (plus if you ask for too much, you're not going to get sympathy from the jury). Once you file against the company, you may find out that other people own been victims of this behavior, too, in which case you'll own a better case that this was a mode of operation for the company and not just an not deliberate misunderstanding.