All beer buyers will likely soon face "carding"

Tennessee is just one step from becoming the first state to require stores selling beer to check the age of every buyer.

The state Senate today completed legislative action on the bill, sponsored by Representative Gary Moore of Joelton. It passed the House last week.

The bill now heads to Governor Bredesen. The governor hasn't said whether he would sign the measure into law, but his staff has not raised any serious objections to lawmakers.

Supporters of the bill believe it will help decrease underage drinking and drunken driving.

Senator Steve Cohen of Memphis was the lone dissenter in the Senate, saying the measure "is one of the stupidest bills I've ever seen."