Passport! That’s not a valid form of ID here

Strange thing that happened to me in a Target while buying a few bits. I had a six pack of some description dos equis I think and got asked for id which is not uncommon in the US their enforcement of the drinking age seems more proactive. Anyway I got out my passport and was told they only accepted California drivers licenses as proof of age. Now despite my best efforts I’ve yet to acquire one, however in the game of id top trump I’m pretty sure international passport would trump state drivers license.

After much umming and ahhhing having called over a manager I was told they would let me get away with it “just this once” and made out like they were doing me this huge favour rather than their job to sell me stuff assuming I had valid proof of age which I did.

This isn’t the first time I’ve had something like this when I was buying a lot of electronics to get setup I was offered a fry’s card but was turned down not due to my lack of credit as I had expected but due to lack of id a passport not being good enough for them. There they just refused to take any other form of id so I just had to do without.

I guess they just don’t get foreigners here in California or indeed people from out of state.

Damn city folk coming here stealing our imported Mexican beers! We don’t like your type just ask good old governor schwarzenegger this here’s a local shop for local people.

Comments

What's more, you look like you're under 21. I'd say you looked 15, perhaps 16. You often get 15 year old Brits drinking beer on their own in California. It's an epidemic that must be stopped.

It's arse covering gone mad.

brainwipe's picture

I wonder if they'd accept a US passport, or if they really are insistant that in order to drink you must have a driving licence. After all booze and driving have proven to be wonderful bedfellows over the years.

Nibbles's picture

indeed oddly the attitude to drink driving over here at least by the public is one of indifference it's as highly illegal as it is in the UK but people routinely do it. I've seen people drive on staggering amounts of drink enough that I wouldn't be guaranteed to be able to walk let alone control a motor vehicle.
There seems to be none of the stigma associated with it like there is in the UK I guess they haven't had the same amount of demonisation with the TV adverts and crackdowns, so it's still socially acceptable to go out get trashed and drive home. I'm very careful when it comes to drinking and driving and you get funny looks when you say "I'm driving I can't drink" in the UK people would just nod and point you to the soft drinks.

Evilmatt's picture