I.D.

What with the ongoing argument about National Identity cards ever present (i'd guess) in the UK right now, it seems as good a time as any to mention, also, the US obsession with forms of ID. I've already talked about the necessity for a social security number to sort out a lot of things over here (mine still hasn't arrived yet - it better hurry up cause i don't know if i'll get paid without it!) and so this seems like a natural extension. This stems, effectively, from a couple of occasions where, when out with friends, we've attempted to go into a bar and been asked for ID. Of course, me being me - and not used to keeping my driver's licence in my wallet (definitely not carrying my passport about with me), this has led to us being turned away.

Now, fair enough, i know the people are just doing their jobs and so you can't really get wound up about it - but to me it just seems rather silly and unnecessary in some ways. When i was in Washington DC a few years back, some of us from the hostel went out for a couple of drinks and we all got asked for ID - and one guy who was in his 40s (and looked older) refused to give it because, to him, it was pretty obvious that he was over 21. As you'd probably expect, the bar refused to serve us and we went elsewhere. Whilst it's important (for the licence) for them not to serve underage people, is checking ID of everyone up to the age of 60 (apparently, that's the limit) taking things to far? Should it be like in the UK where the responsibility to check ID should also rest with the bartenders as well as the doorstaff? Personally, i think that checking all ID is rather extreme - and that it should be down to personal judgement at the time - then if the bartender has doubts, they can ask for the ID themselves. But then, lest we forget, this is America where the drinking age is 21 - and someone aged 18 could, with a bit of effort, pass for 21 - whereas with the age of 18 in the UK, there is probably a better likelihood of distinguishing someone a good deal under 18 than someone 18 or over. But then if they let them drive cars at 15, is it any wonder they can't touch the booze till much later?