The only advise I would give on this angle is more that one should carry their passports (or some other form of ID) with them if they want to enter US bars / drinking establishments or even just want to order a beer.

The United States (from my perception) seems to have far more establishments serving alcohol, whose policy is to ask identification for everyone (or if not everyone, a ridiculously over-heavy subsection of their clients, eg "we check ID for anyone under 35"). Probably for CYA reasons.

I don't ever recall any place in Europe asking for ID when buying a beer over in there (even when I visited when I was in my mid 20s). Whereas, I still occasionally get asked for ID in the United States in spite of being over 40.

Most places in the US will criminally charge the server for selling alcohol to a minor. In my jurisdiction it is a misdemeanor with a $5000 fine for a first offense. Police regularly conduct "sting" operations to catch minimum wage store clerks. The business might also face a penalty but the primary punishment falls on the clerk/server/bartender.

It's all pretty bonkers.

That's because in most of Europe you can buy beer from 16. Even in mid 20s most people are obviously not 16 any more.

> If you're a stereotypically ethnic Polish person no one is going to even look cross-eyed at you

Why is that? Are Polish persons more grown up looking?