You have to show ID. It doesn’t have to be a driver’s license. Many states, mine included, issue cards that are solely for identification and that’s it.
this post was submitted on 29 Jan 2026
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Pretty sure every state has non-drivers ID
Yes, but if you already have a driver's licence, you cannot get a non-driver ID. I tried that before, they refuse to issue both, it's an either/or, but you can't have both.
South Mississippi here, dunno about other states though.
Why would you want to surrender your license in exchange for a non-driver’s ID?
There are a handful of reasons it might happen, most aren't a want though.
- Cheaper to get an ID in most placed
- If you can't drive anyway might as well save the cash
- Sometimes your doctor will request the DMV revoke your license permanently
- If you're a teen your parents may make you ~to save money on their insurance~ as a punishment. Fun fact: Your insurance will likely still charge you for them if you do that!
It's pretty rare that someone surrenders their license willingly, though, because in a lot of places to get it back after surrender, you need to go through the whole process again.
If you got a CDL- commercial driver license, you will carefully cobble what you got around that. The CDL is expensive to get. You are going to familiarize with the local laws. New state? You are an expert.
Yeah, CDLs are a whole different ballgame. I know someone who was a trucker, and they flat out told me that in car accidents you're at fault until proven otherwise. Not sure if that's true, but it wouldn't surprise me given how many dashcams are in semis
Sorry, none of that is true, and no matter what, you should hire a lawyer
MS may just be backwards and deliberately inefficient.
In civilized states the non-driver IDs are issued by the same department that issues drivers licenses. If you already had a card that's says you're "over_ckox, person 12345", they don't want to let you get a second card saying you're also "over-clox, person 13254".
Yes, very true. But you can't get both a citizen ID and a Driver's License at the same time, that's forbidden by the DMV, at least down here in south Mississippi.
Believe me, I tried exactly that after I lost my driver's license once, they refused to issue me a non-driver citizen ID, as I was still a registered driver, so they just reprinted my last driver's license instead, despite my request for a non-driver ID.
I'm not sure where you are, but I'd guess 95% of people's ID cards down this way are driver's licenses, not pedestrian IDs.
Edit: I love getting downvoted for spitting proven tested facts about the legal system, that's awesome 👍 /s
Whatever, votes don't matter anyways, facts are real though.
Passports and Passport cards are also a thing... lmao
Why would you want to surrender your right to drive?
It would have been cheaper to get a non-driver ID as I didn't have a car anymore at the time. Still don't actually, whenever I do need to drive, I have to borrow my mom's car or roommate's SUV.
But hey, I got a license 👍
You can use any valid government issue identification to get alcohol. You don't need a driver's license, that is just the most common form of ID. You can use a passport, you can get an ID from the DMV that does not permit you to drive, you can even use a Merchant Mariner Card.
You can't get a citizen ID when you're still on record as having a driver's licence. You don't get the option to switch over from one to the other in Mississippi if you're still on record as having a license.
Been there, tried that. I ain't had a running car in like 11 years. I either walk, ride bicycle, ride as passenger, or ever so occasionally borrow my mom's car or roommate's SUV.
You can probably get a nexus card for ID. It's a federally recognized ID card.
What does this have anything to do with travel between states within the USA?
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/nexus/card
Yes I looked it up, that's for travelling between countries, which I have no need, plan or intent to do.
Hey, got your dm but figured it was better to answer here.
That's its intended purpose yes but it's still a valid ID that doesn't require you to surrender your driver's license. I believe there's a paper version of their forms if you can't get local assistance.
Oh, okay, cool cool, today I learned a thing. 👍
I think you might have slightly misunderstood me though, I mean that the DMV wouldn't even allow me to surrender my license to get a simple citizen ID, even though that's what the police department expected me to do after my first and only DUI a decade ago.
That was a long time ago, and I tried to do everything right and proper. But it was like the right hand didn't know what the left hand was doing, as technically my license was suspended for 4 years, yet the DMV refused to issue a plain non-driver ID, they just reprinted my last license from their files.
Sigh, all that was long ago, I've long ago resolved all these things, and I'm not about to make the same mistake again. I don't even have a motor vehicle anymore, I usually just ride as a passenger anymore. The few occasions I do need to borrow a vehicle, I simply don't drink ya know.
Still, weird that the DMV refused to issue me a non-driver ID during that 4 year suspension, like did they even actually suspend my license in the first place?
The amount of people lashing out for a shower thought... It is just a shower thought, people.
OP never claimed it was the only way to verify your age. OP just says it is ironic, which it is! That's all...
Indeed, thanks for recognizing that 👍
Driver license? I don't have one, I use my health care card. Which, yeah, is just as sensical ;)
Massachusetts has liquor license IDs.
LOL, we can just as easily get a plain citizen ID, non-driver ID, which is just as legit as proof of ID. But by far and wide, most people get a driver's licence, even if they have no clue how to drive..
You can't get both types of ID at the same time though.
But a specific liquor license? That actually makes more sense really. Does that apply for beer as well?
But... Healthcare card? Damn! 😂🤣
Yes beer as well. Massachusetts is incredibly anal about IDing. If you're from out of state you better have a passport, even for American citizens.
I have absolutely no problem showing my ID if I want to purchase beer (most around my area already know me and don't bother checking my ID, but still..)
The irony isn't that they check ID, it's the type of ID they expect, like 95% of the time it's the customer's driver license...
Wait wait wait wait, holup...
You gotta have a passport to visit your state? Like, my verified RealID license card isn't enough?
If that's the case, then what in the literal fuck? Is Massachusetts even part of the USA anymore?
You don't need to a passport to visit Massachusetts. Also, not my state.
Here are the valid IDs to purchase alcohol in the state:
- Massachusetts Driver’s License;
- Massachusetts Liquor Identification Card;
- Massachusetts Identification Card;
- Passport issued by the United States or a government that is officially recognized by the United States;
- Passport Card for a Passport issued by the United States;
- United States Military Identification Card;
My information though was slightly dated.... And since April of 2025:
- Valid Driver’s License issued by another state; and
- Global Entry Card issued by United States Customs and Border Protection
Before April of last year, out of state driver's licenses were not a valid ID to purchase alcohol in the state of Massachusetts.
Just don't drive impaired...
Indeed, absolutely! I only made that mistake once, literally 10 years ago, due to peer pressure. I wouldn't have even caved into peer pressure then, but I was kinda left with no choice, as the couple I was driving around were the ones paying for gas in the tank.
I almost left them out of town to avoid drinking, but the gas tank was almost empty, and they insisted I drink with them before they gave me gas money.
Yes, it was a very fucked up situation, they backed me into a corner in my mom's car. Put it this way, I'll never give those dipshits a ride again, I suffered the legal and financial consequences, and it won't happen ever again.
Thankfully nobody was hurt and no accident ever happened, but yeah I was starting to swerve a bit.
Never again!
Epic story! You did well to act on your own judgment. Because what the f else would you do.
Nope. I don't have a driver's license and I can buy alcohol with my State ID.
I got my driver's licence when I was 17, literally 4 years before I was legal to purchase alcohol. I'm 43 now for reference, so I'm totally old enough to purchase alcohol, I just sometimes have to provide ID to get it, and that's cool and all..
But, since I started with a driver's license, I'm not allowed to get a non-driver's ID anymore, they force me to keep my driver's license, whether I want it or not.
Fuck I dunno, Mississippi is weird like that I guess. They'll let almost anyone drive, whether they even want to or not 🤷
At least you ensure they're licensed to drive, when they go drink and drive... What if it's just damage prevention?
You're fucking stupid mate XD
Dude... chill. It's a shower thought
Never lovingly been called a dumbass I guess, spose you'd need friends for that to happen
I can definitely take the loving hit of being called a dumbass once in a while when it's called for, I've had plenty of friends in my life that talk to each other like that.
But.. That's not the words you used...
I'm not even mad, but yeah 'fucking idiot' is a little less than friendly cool.
I'll leave it at that, again not mad. Let's all try to have a good new year at least, and stay safe and stay warm...
Ahh mate, must be fuckin stupid or something cos it was obvious aye