What ID do you use when you go out?

Also, this reminds me of a little thing that happened to me within the first week of moving here. I was 21 and was used to being carded for every little thing in the states. Not knowing that they sell cigarettes in 10s and 20s, I went to buy a pack and when the guy asked me "20?" my response was "yeah, I'm 21". My husband thought that was very funny.

I never get carded.

Lucky sods.

But I do carry around my UK drivers licence. Old habits die hard.

This!!!   

My problem may well be the opposite -- documentation to prove I'm of OAP age 

I'm very interested in this since I can no longer renew my PA driver's license and I'd rather not carry around my full passport just to buy beer when I'm in the States.

Do you know if you can get a passport card through the US Embassy in London? All the links I'm seeing are US-based, and the embassy site doesn't have much on them, either. :/

 

The application form is the same as for a passport renewal so I imagine it works the same as a passport book renewal. They probably have to mail everything to the States for processing but I'm sure they can do it. You'd fill out the application and mail the fee and your current passport book to the embassy like with a renewal. Because it's not good for international air travel I guess it's not something they market towards expats in the UK. It's mainly intended for people who travel across the land borders with Canada and Mexico frequently.

Thanks, aimlesstraveller!

I emailed the Embassy yesterday morning and happily, I've had a reply already. So straight from the horse's mouth:

Please refer to:
http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/acs/passports/renindex.html when
you complete the Form DS-82 at the top you will see the boxes just tick
the box for a Passport Card, and when you submit the payment just
complete the section for ADULT PASSPORT CARD $30.00.

I wish I got carded too!

I also carry my UK drivers license because I cant imagine NOT having ID on me ;-)

I never carry my Biometrics ID card on me. It is way too expensive to replace if I lose it.  I'm old enough that I don't get carded.. but, carry my provisional license on me just in case I get lucky some day.

I have always used my US DL and never had anyone make an issue of it.
I don't ever plan on driving in the UK (could never afford to in London) so I don't have a provisional and my passport w/ the visa vignette is way too valuable, I haven't been to a bar that is worth it being lost/stolen!

I use my US license and only have occasional problems. I look like I'm about 15 so it's pretty rare when I don't get asked for ID! I am considering getting a provisional just so people don't spend forever trying to find my birth date.

Semi-related rant:
There's a woman at our local Co-Op who clearly has it out for me. She asks for my ID every time I'm in there and it always results in a massive fuss - it's like she can't realise I'm not getting any younger. The first time I handed my US license and she asked if I had anything British. Obviously not - if I did, I would have given you that... So she called a manager over who said my ID was fine, despite the teller pushing for more scrutiny. A few weeks later I go in with BF, who looks a lot older than I do, and he bought some beer. She not only asked for his ID but asked for mine as well, claiming that they have to see everyone in a group's ID, regardless of who is purchasing the alcohol. So what about those toddlers who go shopping with their parents and probably don't have any ID? Are their parents not allowed a bottle of wine until their children are the right age? 

I never carry around id (my passport is the only id I have) and have only been carded once in 5 years.  All I wanted was a single bottle of ale at ASDA, so it's not like I was buying a lot either.  I did managed to talk my way out of the carding (I'm 32) but I was not happy at all about being carded!

I use my US license and only have occasional problems. I look like I'm about 15 so it's pretty rare when I don't get asked for ID! I am considering getting a provisional just so people don't spend forever trying to find my birth date.

Semi-related rant:
There's a woman at our local Co-Op who clearly has it out for me. She asks for my ID every time I'm in there and it always results in a massive fuss - it's like she can't realise I'm not getting any younger. The first time I handed my US license and she asked if I had anything British. Obviously not - if I did, I would have given you that... So she called a manager over who said my ID was fine, despite the teller pushing for more scrutiny. A few weeks later I go in with BF, who looks a lot older than I do, and he bought some beer. She not only asked for his ID but asked for mine as well, claiming that they have to see everyone in a group's ID, regardless of who is purchasing the alcohol. So what about those toddlers who go shopping with their parents and probably don't have any ID? Are their parents not allowed a bottle of wine until their children are the right age? 

I tried to buy some beer once and had my 14 yo grand daughter with me.  They refused to sell it to me because I had a minor with me. 

I tried to buy some beer once and had my 14 yo grand daughter with me.  They refused to sell it to me because I had a minor with me. 

  That is just ridiculous!

I tried to buy some beer once and had my 14 yo grand daughter with me.  They refused to sell it to me because I had a minor with me. 

Our Tesco Express wouldn't sell a pack of beer to my husband because I was with him and had no ID, even though I had bought a bottle of wine in the store earlier and no one even asked for my ID.  I just wish there was a little more consistency, at least you'd know what to expect then.

You know, I don't think I have ever been carded in the UK, not even when I was here as a teenager in the 90s.  I often carry my passport around just because if it's in my wallet I know where it is, but I've been thinking about getting one of these:

http://www.citizencard.com/

I've been trying to persuade my husband to get one too, since he doesn't drive and his passport is his only form of ID.  I might look into the passport card thing though, it could be useful to have a more portable ID to show in case I lose my passport on vacation or something.