License — Can You Buy Alcohol With A Vertical

Alex had been looking forward to his 21st birthday road trip for months. He had his bags packed, a playlist ready, and his Arizona driver’s license tucked safely in his wallet. It was still the vertical version he’d received at sixteen, but he figured as long as the math worked, he was golden.

In most places, you can legally buy alcohol with a vertical license as long as you are 21 and the ID is unexpired. However, because vertical IDs are designed to help staff quickly identify minors, many private businesses establish their own policies to refuse them entirely to avoid potential fines. The Birthday Road Trip can you buy alcohol with a vertical license

Can I use that to get into a 21+ show or to drink at your bar? Alex had been looking forward to his 21st

"But I turned 21 today," Alex countered, pointing at the "Under 21 until" date printed right on the card. In most places, you can legally buy alcohol

Alex eventually found a spot that accepted his ID after a manager checked it, but the experience left him wary.

His first stop was a local bar in . He walked up to the door with a grin, handing over his ID. The bouncer barely looked at the birthdate before shaking his head. "Can't take it, man. It’s vertical," the bouncer said.