Will Nashville Bars Accept Paper ID?

Are you coming to Nashville but lost your ID, or had it stolen? Are you wondering if Nashville bars will let you in with a temporary paper ID? I'll answer that question in this post.

The answer is that most of the time, bars in Nashville will let you in and serve you alcohol without a problem. They are within the law to allow you in with a temporary ID, so you should be fine. But, in reality, it's more nuanced, so be prepared to provide other forms of ID.

Remember, bars are trying not to be fined or shut down for selling alcohol to people under 21. Some bars use blacklights and scanners, and a paper ID cannot be scanned. In the end, it's up to the discretion of the bar or doorman.

However, in most cases, you will be fine to enjoy your night.

Always remember to be polite and realize that the burden of proof is on you.

Do you have a passport, hunting license, or any other form of ID that you can pull out to back up the legitimacy of your paper ID?

Here's what we DO know:

The following bars have been recorded as being OK with temporary IDs; however, as I said above, it doesn't guarantee future results.

Roberts Western World and Tailgate Brewery are known to let you in with a temporary ID.

The Red Door Saloon in Midtown has a policy against temporary IDs, so I wouldn't even bother there.

In Nashville, bars and other establishments like restaurants are required to check the identification of anyone who appears to be under the age of 30 to make sure they are of legal drinking age. Generally, bars will accept a paper ID if it looks genuine and includes a photograph. There are exceptions, and it can depend on the doorman or server. It's best to have a driver's license or passport if you have one.

Temporary, paper IDs are acceptable identification according to the Tennessee State Government. However, it's not guaranteed that bars will accept them.

Most of the time, it will be fine. You can find plenty of examples online and in forums of individuals who have had a bad experience with a bouncer at a bar or club. However, suppose a particular doorman, bar, or server has a problem with it. In that case, you can do little, and it's unpredictable. Sometimes it's just up to how the doorman feels on a particular night.

The odds are in your favor. Remember:

Be polite.
Be ready to provide other forms of ID.
Bars love passports because they're hard to fake. Use one if you have it.
Don't bother trying at The Red Door Saloon.
Be ready to be turned away. They are just trying to protect themselves, even if a paper ID is a legitimate form of ID.

Can you get into Nashville bars with an expired ID?

No, you generally cannot get into bars with an expired ID card or any establishment that serves alcohol. This is because bars expired ID's are not considered valid.

Since an expired ID is not considered a valid form of identification, it will generally not be accepted. If your ID is expired, be ready to provide other forms of ID as an individual doorman, server, or bar may consider it OK if you have another ID that verifies your age. There is also the chance that a bar won't thoroughly check your ID and miss that it's expired. You can always try your luck.