My friend was recently denied for Nexus because of a customs violation at age 18 (he is now 32). He brought back a bottle of Absinthe from Europe to the US when the import of absinthe was still not allowed. It's especially annoying because absinthe is again legal in the US.

Is it really valid to hold something rather minor that happened 14 years ago as an 18 year old against him now? I wonder if this is worth appealing?