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According to this story, the governor of Washington state got refused entry into a bar because she didn't have ID, even though she is 61 and couldn't pass for someone under 21. The article states that she is basically happy that it happened, however the bar's owner stated that the bouncer needs more training.

Now, I've always found it odd that many of the places that are required to see ID for things, bars, stores that sell alcohol and tobacco, etc., frequently have signs that state, "if you look younger than 27, be prepared to show ID." or "If you are under 30, you will be carded". The problem is that I've known kids under 18 that could pass for 30 and it wasn't until I was older than 30 that I stopped getting carded for lottery tickets. And since I still looked younger than 21 when I was 31, the latter sign means that I wouldn't have to show ID and if I were to press the issue, I would have a case, since their posted sign stated that anyone older than 30 was not required to show ID.

So what is your opinion on this topic? Should everyone be required to show ID, even if they are obviously significantly older?

I'm 27 and a couple of months ago I got ID'd in an offie for the first time in years (the booze-buying age in this country is 18). I was delighted, but it turned out the offie in question had just changed its policy from "if you look under 21" to "if you look under 25". So, they didn't actually think I was under 18. (But hey, they thought I might be slightly younger than I am. That's something, right?)

It is necessary to allow for the possibility that people look older than they are, but some discretion should be shown. IDing 61-year-olds is silly.

It is necessary to allow for the possibility that people look older than they are, but some discretion should be shown. IDing 61-year-olds is silly.

I disagree. It is discriminatory to ID some people and not others. There are some that look older and some that look younger. Just recently, I was reading an interview with some up and coming actress who claimed that when she was 15, she was getting into bars without being IDed, and she was getting asked out by celebrities in their 30s, because she looked like she was in her mid 20s. I'm almost 40 and it's only been in the last few years that I started looking over 21.

A best policy would be to require ID of everyone, no matter what age they look. It would prevent some people from getting insulted, allow others to feel complimented, and it would prevent underage children from drinking and getting picked up on by old men because they look older and are in a place where they shouldn't be.