That Game-Day Beer is Further Away Than You Think

Imagine the scene: You've finally hit that milestone 21st birthday. You're heading into Williams-Brice Stadium to cheer on the Gamecocks or settling in for a night of baseball at Segra Park, ready to celebrate with your first legal beer at a game. You confidently hand over your driver's license, but instead of a cold drink, you get a firm rejection.

For a growing number of young adults in Columbia, this frustrating scenario is the new reality. A controversial policy at the city's major sports venues means that even if you are legally of age, the orientation of your ID card is all that matters—and if it's vertical, you're out of luck.

The Vertical ID Ban: A Policy of "Efficiency"

Both USC's football stadium and the Columbia Fireflies' Segra Park have now banned the acceptance of vertical driver's licenses for alcohol purchases. In South Carolina, anyone under the age of 21 is issued a vertical ID. While it remains a valid government-issued document proving your age after your 21st birthday, these venues have decided it's no longer good enough for a beer.

Why the sudden crackdown? According to Segra Park President Brad Shank, the decision boils down to one simple factor: speed. "It’s just a rule we have, more for ease," Shank explained. "When we have a lot of people in line for drinking bracelets, we want to make sure that we’re trying to be as efficient as possible."

In short, to cut down on the time it takes for staff to verify dates on a busy day, the venues have implemented a blanket ban. If the ID is vertical, it's an automatic 'no,' regardless of the birthdate printed on it. This policy has been in place at Williams-Brice for the past two seasons, with Segra Park recently joining the trend.

A New Hurdle for Young Fans

This operational shortcut effectively ruins a rite of passage for many, forcing them to make a special trip to the DMV to exchange their perfectly legal ID for a horizontal version if they want to participate. While officials claim this is a common practice at stadiums nationwide, it still comes as a shock to those who find themselves unexpectedly denied service.

So, before you head to the next game, take a look in your wallet. If you're a newly-minted 21-year-old still carrying that vertical license, be prepared to stick to soda. Your proof of age, it turns out, isn't just about the date—it's about the direction.