>Nah, you just have to outwit the bartenders. "Hey, whats that over there!"

Mike;

I do not know what the law is in Florida today, but when I was 17 I was in the Air force stationed at Orlando Air Force Base. One of my passions is guitar and one of the Airman from Mississippi had ordered a custom Martin that had arrived that day and invited me to the place where he had a gig that same evening. It was a bar with a stage and this fellow was on stage playing some great Blues on this outstanding Martin guitar. Just then the door opened and in walked two policemen. “ID’s everbody – get’em out now”! As they checked the ID’s of everyone in the place I thought I had had it! I did not have a drink and did not drink alcohol but I was more than scared.

Seemed like everyone in the place was middle aged except me. Some had little hair and no one looked under 30. To make matters worse I looked like I was 12. The police were checking every ID in the place. They started at the end of the bar furthest from me and came towards me slowly. When they got to my table (I was alone sitting in front of the guitarist) they passed me and did not check my ID!

As my heart returned to a normal beat rate I vowed not to go to a bar until I was 21. From that time on I listened to the guy from Mississippi play guitar in the barracks. At that time in Florida, if you were “under age” you would be in trouble and not the bartender or owner of the bar. In California it is the opposite.

It is good to respect yourself and the law. When I was 17 I did not think of the consequences of my action and only thought about the music. Ignorance is no excuse and rationalizing will not excuse an act.

Tom