Drinking ID

[eureka]

We're from New Zealand but living in the US - haven't had a chance to get our US drivers licenses yet... I realize our NZ drivers licenses probably won't do for buying booze at Coachella right?

We're not really keen on carrying our passports around the festival, so aside from getting our US drivers licenses (which we're working on) are there any other forms of ID we could look at getting that would be accepted a proof of drinking age? In NZ there is a 18+ card you can get, so I'm thinking of something along those lines...

Ta much!

[Radiohead]

You only have to show ID once to get a wristband, then you can go in and out of the beer gardens all weekend without showing ID. Last year, they had an ID checkpoint outside of the festival entrance, so you could show your passport and then take it back to your car and you wouldn't have to carry it around with you.

[gbgbgb]

you can go to any CA DMV and get a CA ID card. It looks just like drivers license but is just an ID card. It can take like 4-6 weeks so go soon.

[Courtney]

You could try bringing your drivers license and a photocopy of your passport for backup. But really, if you're living in the US, I agree that you should just get a state ID card.

[baily]

Bring your passport...that'll work.

Get a locker and place your passport in there after you get your wristband. You'll want the locker to store warm clothing for night time. kills 2 birds with one stone

lockerchella

[Theijuiel]

I'm pretty sure your NZ drivers license would be enough, if you're over the age of 21. Unless your drivers license looks like a flimsy piece of crap.

[JustSteve]

most bars seem to not accept id's like that, even out of state licenses can be a problem sometimes.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

There have been many reports by people that they had to show their ID every time they tried to get beer regardless of having wristbands, so it really depends on the circumstances

[guedita]

Yeah, carry your ID on you. It's so common and easy for underaged people to get wrist bands that often they are told they need to check your ID when you get beer. That has happened to me frequently the last two years and it's a pain.

[Premium Roast]

be looking for you = en el jardin

[frizzlefry]

There have been many reports by people that they had to show their ID every time they tried to get beer regardless of having wristbands, so it really depends on the circumstances

I could see this happening. They use fucking Heineken wrist bands for Christ sakes, every festival/concert/event uses these exact same wrist bands, it doesn't take a genius to come up with the idea to save them for younger friends next time around. I was too cheap (and having too much fun smuggling) to actually go into the beer gardens even though I'm 23 now, so we'll need to see these reports

[wazdog]

Kiwi license should be fine. We all used our D/Ls for the last couple of years and they worked fine.

[frazzles]

Anyone who's really hassling you about a NZ license at an event where people are known to come from different countries needs to be shot. If I can use my California ID to get into age restricted places in Japan, there's no reason why it shouldn't work at Coachella.

[blacklite]

bring both your license and your passport use your passport for the initial check then put it in your locker and then use your license as id for whenever they ask.... i doubt they will deny you after that since it will seem like someone already approved your license as an acceptable for of id

[alcoholicgifts]

Echoing everyone telling you to bring your passport. Your regular ID should be fine, but a friend of mine from the UK almost got denied entrance to a bar here in Indio until she showed her passport.

[eureka]

Unfortunately I've found US bars/clubs to be crazy strict on overseas licenses. This is in WA, CA and NV the 3 states I've lived in so far.

Friends who've come to visit don't believe us when we tell them to bring their passports out with them... they have all tried to use their NZ licenses and ended up having to use their Passports.

Using the Passport to get the wristband, then stashing it and using my NZ license going forward sounds like a good plan! Good to hear Aussie licenses have been sweet in the past too.

[Stickjohn]

Remember that Coachella is very used to international visitors ...

[blueskies]

Foreign ID worked fine for us last year, the guys checking ID were pretty cool about us even though they hadn't see Saskatchewan ID before.

I didn't get asked to see ID anytime after that once I had my wristband, so as far as I know you should be alright.