ID, please

I hadn't been carded in the 16 months I was away from the States. I'm well past the time when I expect to be carded, even here. But every time I've purchased alcohol since my return, I've been asked to produce my ID (I've always had one on me, although I've been lucky. I'm not back in the habit of always carrying my license).

Obviously, this points out the fact the USA has a older requirement for alcohol purchasing than most of the world. But it also is representative of something else I haven't missed about this country: being overly cautious about covering your ass.