Foreign vacationers drinking in America?

[flobadob]

I'm from Ireland. I know someone who is going to America next week. Apparently it is very difficult to get served drink in a bar if you do not have ID. What sort of ID can he get that will mean he won't have to worry about being turned away from pubs? He is only going for two weeks and doesn't want to take his passport out with him every time he goes for a drink. By the way there are 4 men going if that affects matters.

[dr b]

A driver's license would work, if he has one. Anything issued by a government with a picture and birth date on it, basically. If all he's got that fits that description is his passport, he'd need to bring it.

[flobadob]

He doesn't have a license and also he was told that an irish Garda ID issued by our police would not be accepted usually. Is there no temporary ID that you can get issued over there for the two week duration?

[dr b]

Where did he hear that? I Googled "Garda ID" and it looks pretty official to me. It also seems to indicate that it's mostly for folks between 18-21. He is aware that the legal drinking age here is 21?

I am not aware of any way to get a temporary ID while here. I guess I don't see why showing the passport is such a big deal.

[Panic Button]

Just what is the problem with taking his passport?

There are plenty of zippy belt type thingies to ensure he doesn't lose it, or does he plan to get completely blotto?

[jackthehat]

The bars in USA were not keen on accepting my sons Driving Licence nor his MOD identity card..........

Your mate may be better off taking his passport with him...........

[flobadob]

Panic, I don't want to fuel a sterotype here but yes he most likely does. He's just worried about someone trying to steal the passport as they are worth quite a bit on the black market if you know what to do with it. And also he is worried about possibly losing it.

dr b I don't know the details but he reckons he was told the Garda ID is no good. I know a guy who was in America a few years ago and we always have a laugh about the fact he was asked for ID in a bar. Because he was forty at the time, but he looked fifty.

[Clanad]

The only requirement for an establishment to ask for an ID here in the U.S. is to prove age. If you appear to be at or near 18 they may ask for you to provide a "government issued document that has a photo, birthdate, and a date of expiration". A passport certainly fulfills those requirements. One additional ID seen here in the U.S. is a birth certificate, which has only the holder's birthdate... but still acceptable. Most people don't carry their birth certificate around with them, however.

If the imbiber is obviously above the minimum age no request for ID is made...

[dzug]

Trouble is the bar staff may well only have ever seen an American ID and be suspicious of anything else, valid as it may be. They may even have been told (by their management) US drivers licence only. There isn't any way round it - your friend is not eligible for any US ID and must rely on the good sense of the bar staff. Some (like the ones that didn't like the Garda ID - who I'm sure are a minority) may not have that good sense.

[Dee Sa]

I though the official age for alcohol in the States was 21 and they are pretty strict about it too, carry your passport nuisance or not or a photocopy.Best thing is to get someone else older in your party to actually buy the drinks. Hope its not Vegas you wont get a drink there under 21.

[Panic Button]

I was asked for ID for a beer in Florida when I was 34.

I reckon that was twice the age I was previously challenged about being old enough to drink.

[dzug]

<<Some (like the ones that didn't like the Garda ID>>

Of course they may not have liked it because it showed the holder to be under 21 and therefore prohibited from drinking in the US.

Sorry - had missed that angle.

[mikey0118]

I have been living in the United States for the past 13 months and have always been asked for ID when buying alcohol, whether in a pub, bar or even a supermarket. The countless number of times I have been asked for ID, I have produced my UK driving licence, which has never caused any problems. There is definitely no need to carry your passport with you 24/7.

[flobadob]

He doesn't even have a provisional license. He's away today anyway so he'll soon find out.