ID in CA
 

A friend and I are leaving for San Francisco in about a week's time. We're really looking forward to trying out the restaurants and mooching around a few bars.

We're both 35, but guide books seem to recommend that we carry ID with us when we go out so we can order alcohol. Is this really necessary? I'd say we both look our age (!). Thing is, I don't have a driving licence and I'm reluctant to carry my passport around if we're going to bars and clubs. What would locals recommend?

Many thanks. Sam

You just never know.You'd probably be OK, but if you're asked for ID and you don't have it,then you won't be allowed in or served with alcohol.

You can use your passport or military ID.
Sometimes the California state ABC (alcoholic beverage control) performs random checks and will severely penalize restaurants / bars not in compliance. Some have 100% ID policies. Bring your passport.

You can use a money belt for your passport in case you really need it.

I don't think you'll need an ID in a restaurant. Nobody asked our childrens' IDs when we ordered for everyone, even though one son's girlfriend is barely 21 and looks young.

Blimey. In the UK it just isn't necessary (or compulsory). Looks like I'll either have to forgo the bars or risk loosing the passport.

Bars/bartenders are not required to check ID...They are "authorized to check documentary evidence"...They can refuse to serve if in their eyes it is obvious that the "customer" is not 21y/o.I havent been carded for almost 5 years, and those around me tell me I look very "young"(I'm 26)....It's up to you.

It's always a good idea to carry some form of identification with you anyway, even if you don't need it to get into a club. ID's are usually not an issue in restaurants, but as a previous poster has stated some clubs, check all ID's just to be on the safe side.

Some places will serve you no problem.

Some have very strict "look under 35 we card, no exceptions"

And some just card everybody

But don't worry too much - if a certain pub or bar won't let you in - there will be one down the street that only cards those who look under 25. You might not get into <b>THE</b> bar you want - but you can get into <b>A</b> bar.

(But if you do look nearer 25 than 35, you really will need a picture ID.)

Sam..Not sure why you are &quot;risking&quot; losing your passport....Wont it be safe in a pocket?

This is something to complain about? Dang! When you're my age, you look forward to being carded. Someone in a class I was taking told the group (of middle aged ladies) that she was carded at the grocery store when buying wine! We all pounced on her, demanding to know which store and which checker so we could go buy a bottle of wine and get carded! Sigh! Enjoy it while it lasts!

CA ABC can be very hard-nosed and won't hesitate to come down heavily on bars that don't stringently card patrons. Even at clubs where they know me well, I get carded. And I look way over 21. We can't say with certainty on any given day, in any given city, that you will or won't be carded. But it is possible, and if you're asked and DON'T have the ID, you won't get into that establishment. End of story. You slink over to the next club and try to get in there.

If you have military ID, bring it to the clubs. You must have some kind of government-issued ID, don't you?! If nothing else, the passport is fine. Just have a secure place to stash it.

BeachBoi, even I, a woman of &quot;certain age&quot; know that no passport is safe after a couple of bars :))

Oh, Orcas, I feel your pain :)

When I got carded in a bar (my son was playing that night) I even posted a report on Fodor's!

It's just that losing a passport is BIG issue and would take a large chunk out of holiday to put right, especially in a security-conscious place like the US. While travelling around Europe, the advice has always been to leave the passport at home, preferably in a safe!

Unlike most countries, we have no government-issued ID, and the issue of personal liberty is a big one for us. And most wouldn't have military ID either.

Faina........Which song would that be that you are singing??? :D

Well this was recently &amp; in Seattle not California, but some bars card EVERYone, they don't care how old or young you look.

Oh, no, what makes you think that? I never sing in public, don't confuse me with Kal ;)

Hello Sam, about a year ago I and some family members and friends went to a local restaurant and ordered drinks before dinner. They required all of us to show ID. I was shocked. Believe me, we all looked way over 21, LOL. One woman had not brought her purse with her and consequently did not have any ID on her and so she was not served, not even a glass of wine. I did find out later however that this restaurant had gotten in trouble for serving alcohol to a few minors at one of their other restaurants so maybe the ABC made this requirement part of their &quot;punishment&quot;.

BTW, it is always good to have ID on your person. If you are injured etc. it is good the authorities will know who you are etc. We had a friend who was attacked and hit over the head and evidently robbed and then pulled into an alley. The authorities had no idea who he was.

When he did not return home from his trip his family was in a panic of course. It took a week for them to discover he was in a morque as a &quot;John Doe&quot;. Horrible situation.

In California those that do not drive can still get a California ID (no drivers license ID) through the state. Can you do that in England? I know those in Italy are issued ID cards and are expected to have them with them at all times. Surely there must be some way you could get an ID document from your government? Otherwise you would probably want to keep your passport with you, but I understand your concern about carrying it with you throughout the evening. Best wishes.

Faina......Dear, you said &quot;after a few bars&quot;.......OH! I GET IT!! You meant &quot;bars&quot; as in drinking!! At first I thought &quot;soap&quot;, NAH, that didnt fit....Maybe,,, I need.....a.....BAR((6)).........

Hi there. No, there's no such thing as ID cards in the UK - although the government are discussing it now, but that's a different and rather thorny question. If you need to prove your identity here, you use either your passport or your driving licence, if you have one.

BeachBoi, too much &quot;poison&quot; already? We need to put you behind the bars :)

FainaAgain,

ROTFL!

Sam, Do you have a driver's license? If so, does it have your photo and birthdate on it? That's what passes around here for ID for most people.

Sam, Oh Sorry! I see you don't have a driver's license. Well, it was a thought....Can you get one in a weeks time? Hahaha

Hi Sam, what do people in England do for an ID if they don't have a driver's license and have never obtained a passport? I am asking because once in awhile while shopping here in the US and using a credit card I am asked for ID? Does this not happen in England? Just curious. Thanks.

I was wondering the same thing - how would a person in the UK conduct business without an ID if the person doesn't drive or have a passport?

I don't know what the statistics are, but almost everyone here has a passport. Most drive, too. It would be very, very unusual for someone not to have either passport or driving licence, and even then there are birth certificates and so on. But to be honest, we only get asked for ID when opening bank accounts etc. It's just not something you need for day-to-day stuff.

We never get asked for ID when using credit cards. Signatures used to be considered sufficient, but now hardly anyone even signs. Instead we have something called chip and pin - the cards have a built-in microchip and you just have to key in your 4-digit PIN when you buy anything.

Unless things have changed since I retired, foreign nationals in the US are required to carry documentary proof that they are in the US legally and to present that proof to any peace officer or border enforcement officer on demand.

I would thinki you would need to be able to prove you are an English national (or whatever you may be) anytime you are stopped which is much more important than whether you are carded in a club or not.

I'd suggest carrying the passport and devising a way that satisfies you it is safeguarded (moneybelt, neck pouch, etc.).

Forget you ID...bring your EGO. ;)

What form of ID do you use in the UK if you don't drive? Do you carry your passport? UK doesn't offer photo ID to people that don't drive? All I can say is WOW!!!!!!

SamInLondon - your reply about not being asked for ID for credit cards is very interesting to me. Because, 4 years ago (pre-9/11) I was in London and I swear EVERY time we used our credit card (from a dingy little pub to Harrod's) we were asked for an ID and then the clerk would actually watch our signature and compare it to the one on the back of the card. I thought this was amazing at the time, because for one, this is done so rarely in the US (even though it's required by the credit card companies) and I was just so amazed that every clerk actually followed the rules. I guess the new chip PIN thing is all it takes now. Very interesting, indeed. You learn something new everyday. LOL.

I agree with most everyone above - you'll need to carry your passport if you don't want to be disappointed and denied alcohol.

Have fun in San Francisco! I love that city!

SimoneSassett: Golly - that has not been my experience at all. I have been to London/the UK more times than I can count and used credit/debit cards hundreds of times. Except for when I've claimed VAT refunds, I don't think I have EVER been asked for an ID - not once.

(and even when claiming VAT, a few shops only want the passport number and don't bother actually looking at the passport)

Thanks for your help, everyone. Still seems strange to me that before the age of 21 (unless I'm mistaken) you can marry, have children, buy a gun etc. but not order a drink.

I'll be carrying the passport around carefully secreted on my person.

Clearly, the difference between our countries in this instance is that we want our citizens sober when they do those things.

Pis

Sam - You aren't the only one. It seems strange to a lot of us that at 18 Americans have all the rights and responsibilities of full-fledged adults, yet are banned from buying a beer for 3 more years.

Good thing you are coming to California though - the liquor laws in some other states are a lot more strict. 21 is still the legal age for drinking, but in some states you can't buy alcohol on Sundays, some counties in some states are completely dry, in some states you have to buy alcohol at special stores, etc. It is really odd.

From Sam:

Still seems strange to me that before the age of 21 (unless I'm mistaken) you can marry, have children, buy a gun etc. but not order a drink.

Also can sign legal contracts and join the military. Can rent a car too, but at a higher price.

Sorry to introject on an old topic, but apparently foreign passports (unless they clearly specify your height, weight, color of your eyes, etc.) are NOT AN ACCEPTABLE FORM OF IDENTIFICATION to purchase alcohol in California. See CA Business and Professional Code section 25660. I presume it means that all foreigners (again, unless they have a different ID or passports that specify their physical characteristics) are drinking illegally in California...

Would appreciate everybody's comments.

Kukurbitta

Kukurbitta: If soemone is otherwise legal, they are not drinking illegally because they do not have adequate ID. They may, however, be refused service or the purchase of alcohol if they do not not have ID that meets the requirements.

If they are cited for illegal consumption or possession, which they may be if they look young and cannot prove their age, presentation of proof of age at the time the cite was issued is a defense to the charge.

Sam - you said that you're 35. Do you look as if you're under 21?

I'd say, ALWAYS carry your ID and wear clean underwear, never know when one might get hit by a trolley!

&gt;-)

get a photo copy of your passport and leave the original in the hotel safe.