What ID do you need to buy alcohol in Massachusetts?
All Liquor ID applicants (21 years of age or older) must present the following documents: 1 document that proves your Social Security Number (SSN) OR an SSN Denial Notice with non-U.S. Passport, Visa, and I-94. 1 document that proves your date of birth. A complete application.
For U.S. citizens, a valid, unexpired U.S. passport is sufficient proof of lawful presence. U.S. citizens may also provide a certified copy of their U.S. birth certificate. For permanent residents, a valid permanent resident card (green card) is enough.
One of the least popular laws states that someone who wants to purchase alcohol must have a Massachusetts driver's license, liquor identification card, a military identification card, or a United States passport. This means that driver's licenses from out of state are not enough to buy alcohol in Massachusetts.
- Valid Federal or National Issued Documents.
- Valid State-Issued Driver Licenses.
- Other Identification Documents.
The sale of alcohol off premises (in a licensed liquor store for spirits other than beer and wine) is allowed from 8 AM to 11 PM Monday through Saturday and 10 AM to 11 PM on Sundays. The sale of alcohol on premises (for all types) is allowed from 8 AM to 2 AM Monday through Saturday and 10 AM to 2 AM on Sundays.
Grocery and convenience stores can sell beer and wine from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Restaurants and bars can serve from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday. No alcohol sales begin before noon on Sunday. It's illegal to sell alcohol on any election day while polls are open.
Key differences between a REAL ID and a standard license:
Starting May 7, 2025, only licenses/IDs that are REAL ID-compliant will be accepted as identification at airport security checkpoints. You will NOT be able to board an airplane using a standard Mass. license or ID.
Go to mass.gov/id to decide. Bring your required identification and completed application to an RMV Service Center. You can start the application online.
A Mass ID looks like a driver's license, but it does not extend any driving privileges. A Mass ID is an official form of identity, signature, and age in Massachusetts. To obtain a Mass ID, you must meet the following requirements: You are at least 14 years of age.
State ID cards, passports, military IDs, and driver's licenses are acceptable forms of ID in most states. A permanent resident card may be acceptable in some areas, but check with management. A school ID or a birth certificate is not acceptable.
Can you have alcohol in your car in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, it's against the law to have an open container of alcohol while driving. Open Container Laws refer to having open containers of alcohol in the passenger areas of the car while driving. For an alcohol container to be opened, it means the seal has been broken, or some of the contents have been removed.
If you have a driver's license from another state, you need to convert it to a MA driver's license upon becoming a resident in Massachusetts.
Driver license. US passport or passport card. US military card (front and back) Military dependent's ID card (front and back)
The following documents are not sufficient to verify identity: Social Security card. Birth certificate. Bank card (even if it includes the cardholder's photo)
Step one in this question is to make sure the ID someone is handling you is a legally acceptable ID. For example, a university ID should never be accepted. Currently the only ID accepted with out a physical description is a military ID. All other forms that do not include a physical description CAN NOT be accepted.
Most of the state's current legislation stems from past alcohol-related incidents. In 1984, then-governor Michael Dukakis signed a bill to outlaw happy hour discounts after a young woman was killed in a drunk driving accident.
This definition includes convenience stores. Massachusetts allows grocery and convenience stores to sell wine, beer, and liquor; New York allows them to sell beer and wine products; and Rhode Island does not allow them to sell any alcohol.
Underage Drinking: Underage Possession of Alcohol
Possession is prohibited WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTION(S): parent/guardian.
The Massachusetts Blue Laws control hours of operation for certain businesses and require some businesses to abide by voluntariness of employment provisions on Sundays and some legal holidays. These laws are enforced by the Attorney General's Office.
In case you're not aware, there are certain time windows when it's legal to sell and purchase alcohol in Massachusetts. According to mass.gov all alcoholic beverages shall only be sold or delivered between 8:00 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. on Mondays through Saturdays and between 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. on Sundays.
Can an 18 year old drink alcohol at home in Massachusetts?
First, a person under 21 may drink alcohol when supervised by a parent or legal guardian on property owned by the adult. However, the adult must have purchased the alcohol from a package store, brewery, or winery and not from any other establishment.
AAA REAL ID service is available to members in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Those who are renewing their current standard license or ID card can apply for a REAL ID in person (with required documentation) at a local AAA branch.
RMV Service Centers. If you need to complete an in-person permit (non-CDL), license, or ID transaction, you are required to make a reservation online.
You have a choice of a REAL ID or a standard license; however, starting October 1, 2020, you won't be able to use a standard license to board a plane. Same fees, same expiration. Fees for both types of IDs are the same, and they both expire in 5 years.
Start your application online at Mass.Gov/RMV and answer a few questions to determine exactly what identification documents to bring to the RMV.
How much does a Real ID cost in Massachusetts? The fee for renewing a non-commercial REAL ID license is $50, while the fee for upgrading to a standard or REAL ID card is $25.
One of the easiest ways to get a government-approved photo ID card is through your local post office. A post office ID card can be used in all states, as it is a legal form of identification throughout the US.
Official identity document means a birth record, marriage record, divorce decree, driver's license, state issued identification card, social security card with the social security number redacted, passport, or any other official government-issued document required or commonly used to verify a person's identity.
Beginning May 7, 2025, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID compliant driver's license or identification card, or another TSA-acceptable form of identification, for domestic air travel and to enter certain federal facilities.
If you renew your Massachusetts ID before your 21st birthday, you will receive a vertical ID with the words "Under 21" printed on it. However, if you renew your ID on or after your 21st birthday, you will receive a standard horizontal ID without "Under 21" printed on it.
What are the three most common forms of a fake ID?
The three most common fake IDs are borrowed IDs, manufactured fake IDs, and forged IDs. Understanding each type of fake ID will help you spot them when you come across them.
Any Guest who wishes to purchase an alcoholic beverage at Walt Disney World Resort must present one of the following valid forms of identification: U.S. state driver's license (includes U.S. territories*) U.S. state ID (includes U.S. territories*)
Checking ID's is the Bartender's Responsibility. If you're a bartender, make no mistake – you are the one the authorities will question if a minor has been served in your bar. Don't take any chances. The bar owner holds you responsible.
The Melanie Law allows a District Attorney to seek forfeiture of a motor vehicle for any defendant convicted of a 4th or subsequent alcohol-related driving offense. Melanie's Law eliminates the allowance of a 15-day temporary license. In addition, the operator's vehicle will be impounded for 12 hours.
The Legalities of Drinking in a Car That Is Off
Sitting in a vehicle and drinking alcohol if you are not driving and the car is not in operation is not – technically – a violation of the law in California. However, drinking and driving is against the law.
You may not carry any alcohol beverage inside a vehicle unless an individual who is 21 years old or older is with you. The container must be full, sealed, and unopened. If opened, the alcohol must be kept in the trunk or place where passengers do not sit.
Providing Alcohol to Minors
Under Massachusetts law it is illegal sell or deliver alcohol to someone under 21. There are additional prohibitions on obtaining alcohol in a bar, restaurant, or store with the intention of providing it to someone under 21.
Valid New York State driver's license or a valid driver's license from any other state or Canada; Valid identification issued by the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (non-driver ID card); Valid United States military identification; and.
Underage Drinking: Furnishing Alcohol to Minors
Furnishing is prohibited WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTION(S): parent/guardian. OR spouse.
