Annie Z. Yu

The Republic | azcentral.com

Vertical driver's and identification licenses are no longer acceptable to purchase alcohol in Arizona.

The changes applies to all licenses issued before age 21%2C no matter the state or person's current age.

To avoid bringing around a passport%2C out-of-state residents may apply for an Arizona ID card for %2412.

Anyone who produces a vertical driver's license for age verification can no longer purchase alcohol in Arizona, regardless of whether the holder is 21.

Senate Bill 1397, passed during this year's legislative session and signed by the governor in late April, amends state statute to say identification issued to a person when they are younger than 21 is no longer acceptable for alcohol purchases after a 30-day grace period once the person turns 21. This applies to driver's licenses and all other state-issued identification cards. The bill went into effect Thursday.

The change is intended to discourage those who obtain a new, horizontal driver's license after turning 21 from passing on their still-valid vertical licenses to someone who is underage and might use it to purchase alcohol or get into bars.

"We know that has been an issue in Arizona," said Sgt. Wesley Kuhl, special investigator for the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control. "There's a constant use of fake IDs and I think this is one of the ways that the Legislature has tried to step in and help curb that problem."

Now, any person over 21 who has an underage license has two options for alcohol-related age verification: Get a horizontal driver's license or provide another form of identification.

Other acceptable forms include: any valid state-issued identification license (also must be issued after the person turned 21); an unexpired armed-forces ID card; or a valid passport or resident alien card. All ID cards must have the person's picture and date of birth.