Ladies And Gentleman, We Have A Winner

The state receiving the award for the dumbest new law taking effect on July 1st is Tennessee:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. –Comer Wilson hasn’t had to show his ID to buy beer in a while. Maybe it’s the 66-year-old man’s long white beard.

Starting Sunday, gray hair won’t be good enough. Wilson and everyone else will be required to show identification before buying beer in Tennessee stores – no matter how old the buyer appears.

“It’s the stupidest law I ever heard of,” Wilson said. “You can see I’m over 21.”

Tennessee is the first state to make universal carding mandatory, says the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association. However, the law does not apply to beer sales in bars and restaurants, and it does not cover wine and liquor.

Supporters say it keeps grocery store and convenience store clerks from having to guess a customer’s age.

Because you never know when a bunch of Sixth graders who look remarkably like Korean War Veterans will walk into the local 7-11 and try to buy a six-pack of Budweiser.

As dumb as the law is, though, this comment from Tennessee’s Governor is even dumber:

Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen said it’s a good way to address the problems of underage drinking.

And the 63-year-old governor said he personally won’t mind the extra effort to buy beer.

“I’ll be very pleased when I’m carded, and in my mind I’ll just imagine it’s because I look so young,” he said.

Yea, you go with that Governor.

H/T: The Irish Trojan and Hit & Run