I’m not sure what it is about turning 18 that makes people think they will never be asked for ID ever again. This story was a couple of weeks ago now, it was a Friday night, an unusually quiet Friday night at that. But at around 9:30 there was a sudden surge of customers, all of which looked about 16, or at least most of them did. It turned out that it was the last day of college and they were all going on a pub crawl to celebrate their introduction into the adult world.
Now, because about 90% of these new arrivals had only just turned 18 in the last couple of months it was a constant stream of asking for ID before they even suggested what drink they wanted. Most of which had them ready and waiting, making my job easier and quicker. Then there were the few 19-21 year olds with them, be that friends who were in the years above or family. They too were asked for ID, most of which handed the plastic over the bar with ease, some resistance from those who had spent more time in their 20s.
But then there are those who did not bring out any ID for this celebration for those newly legal drinkers, a time where someone who had grown some more facial hair than normal who would try to sneak in a couple months before they’re supposed to. These were not the focus or the confusing part of the night, it was the ones who had no ID with them that stumped me, walking confidently up to the bar looking like a rabbit in headlights when asked if they had their ID on them, responding only with, “I don’t have it on me.” or “I didn’t think I would need it.”
Why would the idea of not thinking they would need it sway the opinion of the person, who’s only job on a night of barely legal celebration was to make sure everyone drinking had reached the magical age for alcohol consumption? For those who are trying to get a drink before their legal age and are able to find a landlord slack enough to not care for the age of their customers, then the pub probably isn’t… of the highest level of establishment… or something to that affect.
And to those who have begun to reach their mid-20s, you may have spent half a decade being the legal age to drink but still take your ID with you, it’s challenge 25 after all, take it as a compliment that you’ve kept you youth, you might think differently when someone says that they definitely don’t need to see your ID.
The Nerdy Bartender 