(Photo by Matt Baran - CC BY 2.0)

Alcoholic drink at a bar.

An Arizona law to crack down on underage drinking may soon be overturned because a state lawmaker wants to allow tourists who are over 21, but have valid, vertical driver’s licenses, to buy alcohol.

Arizona residents can use a vertical ID to buy alcohol during a 30 day grace period after turning 21. After that, state law requires a horizontal ID to purchase booze.

But some states don’t make people get a new ID once they’re old enough to drink.

To keep those out-of-state IDs from being used by underage tourists, Arizona outlawed using a vertical license to buy booze in 2014.

State Rep. Sonny Borrelli (R, Dist. 5) is sponsoring HB 2031. He said the current law hurts restaurant servers and owners because an entire table may decide to leave if one person can’t get served. 

“This is something that affects tourism and the economy, and we have to make it fair and protect the people that are actually trying to make a living in serving food and beverage,” Borrelli said. 

The Arizona Department of Liquor said it’s taking a neutral stance on HB 2031, and bartenders will still have the right to refuse service to someone they suspect is under 21.

HB 2031 is now in the senate. If Gov. Doug Ducey signs it, the bill has an emergency clause that would make it effective immediately.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been modified to clarify what happens during the 30 day grace period after an Arizona resident turns 21.