Just to muddy the waters even further, I was assured by the guy at the FDSO that I didn't need a BFR at all to use my reciprocal FAA license so long as my JAA license and medical remained valid.
This struck me as a bit odd as I really didn't feel up to speed with the different procedures in the US so took a BFR anyway. Even the instructors at the flight school (NAC) couldn't agree which surprised me. What had they been doing for others in the same situation one wonders? Anyway, it's a good job I did a BFR because there was A LOT I thought I understood but didn't. I recommend this to anyone going for the first time as OBK is. It only consists of about 1 to 2 hrs in the air and an hour of informal questions in a classroom. You'd probably have to do somthing to a similar level (or better) anyway for the normal club/school checkout.
OBK, my reference to legal age referred to the USA where you can be thrown in jail for just being able to spell B-E-E-R before you are 21
Seriously, after drinking in pubs in UK since age of 14, the first time I was EVER refused alcohol was in Atlanta at age 25!
Fly a Cessna over downtown LA with 3 pax - no problem - relax over a bud afterward - are you crazy? Mad world indeed. Land of the free my @rse.