Originally Posted by
Two's in
Huge, we've all had the same thought process with the being carded routine, but actually it's the same reason that so many other things are completely insane - lawyers and lawsuits. If you rely on judgement and observation, it only takes one underage drinker to slip through and you are done in terms of liability etc. So to ensure you can't be sued, the safe way is to card 100% of people. Quite a lot of places let staff use judgement, like saying they will card anybody who appears to be 35 or under, but again, that is a judgement call, so isn't foolproof. It would be nice to think you are being asked because of your debonair and youthful looks, but it's actually so you wont end up in a lawsuit.
Whilst in the US I had the same experiences, I asked why ID was needed (they had just refused to serve a 70+ gentleman) and they said it was a State Law and in the case of any trouble, everyone will have ID and proof of who they really are.
What got me, was having to have every one at the bar when ordering a round of drinks to prove who they were for (that was Hawaii)