First Time I've Been Asked for My ID in 35 Years!
 

Waitstaff at Harry Caray's at MDW asked me for my ID the other day when I ordered a beer during a CO delay. I won't give away my age, but let's just say it's the first time I've been asked for my ID since 1969! State law, they said. If so, it's a state law that's never obeyed in downtown Chicago.

My recollection of when they ask for ID, especially when a person is clearly over 35 or 40, is that they've been recently busted for serving minors and aren't taking any chances on getting their liquor license suspended.

Either that, or it's a shameless attempt at getting a bigger tip.

I had the same thing happen a couple days ago at CMH (first at Max & Erma's, then at the bar back by the AA gates). From what I could hear with other patrons, they were carding everyone regardless of how youthful they did or didn't look.

I got asked for my ID at some awful bar in Queens to which I let some guys I met in the bar at the W on Union Square drag me. Being a not-so-youthful-looking 28, that was quite a surprise.

Naturally, with my passport locked in my room safe and no other form of acceptable ID, I ended up relying on charm and frank disbelief to get served.

It turned out to be a college-age place so I guess that fits in with the recently-busted possibility cited by one of the other posters.

Back in my bartending days, I would card older people for two reasons. I would card the men just to see how they respond. If they are jerks or really drunk, I could tell them to take a hike. If they were women, they were invariably quite pleased that I carded them. ;)

Yeah, I'm 24 and don't get carded anymore... Makes me sad

I blame it on the balding boyfriend though :)

A smart server will card me when I ask for a senior citizen discount.