Action Line #90605 -- Shoppette

  • Published
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Complaint: 

Hi, thanks for providing a place to receive answers about our concerns. I just returned from the Shoppette where I had some trouble with the cashier. As I waited in line I observed a Turkish woman speak to the cashier in Turkish and purchased a pack of cigarettes without showing her ID. Now I get up there to purchase a Gatorade and one can of chewing tobacco and as a short haired American I am asked for my ID. No problem since I am used to this, I am then asked for my ration card. I have had this card for over two years and have never taken it out of my wallet, even when buying a roll of tobacco or a bottle of wine.

First, I would like to know how one person in line is not asked for an ID and another is asked for an ID plus a ration card. I understand that the ration card is used for hard liquor but that did not apply in this case. Second, I would like to know if the Shoppette is for military and their dependants only or is it open to the general public.

Thanks for your time

Response: 

This is a frequently asked question so let me run through the rules. First of all, the ration card...this is not a form of ID and you should not have been asked for it in this instance. The ration card is only needed for cigarette purchases and alcohol with over 40% alcohol content.

The shoppette is just like the BX and Commissary; only assigned military, their dependents and guard/reserve called to active duty, US civilian employees, as well as DoDDs teachers and their families are authorized patrons. A couple other things to consider...some Local national employees of our services facilities have authorization to purchase for their place of employment, such as club employees may be sent to make alcohol purchases for the combined club. However, the most common source of these questions results from Turkish spouses of military members who are valid ID card holders.

All that said, there should not be inconsistency in the checking of ID cards. Everyone is required to show a valid U.S. military identification card prior to their transaction. The only exception to this policy is U.S. military in uniform. Uniformed personnel are only asked for an ID when purchasing alcohol to verify age, as this is the law. Since we are all human and forget things sometimes, I have found that often the cashiers are friends or acquaintances of many patrons and simply forget to ask for their ID since they know them. This is not correct procedure and we will remind all our cashiers to continue to ask for proper identification even when they know the patron across the counter, besides, in this instance a ration card should have been requested for cigarette purchases.

We will continue the reminders to the employees, but thanks again for your attention to this matter and for taking the time to write.