"Private Clubs" and the Unicard system by Rillifane
Texas laws concerning the selling of alcoholic beverages allow each locality to determine for itself if the sale will be permitted. And by locality the law means that each precinct (a tiny political subdivision) determines this for itself.The result is that you can cross the street in Dallas and find you have entered a "dry" precinct where alcohol sales are prohibitted.
The solution for this nonsense is for drinking or eating establishments which wish to sell alcohol in a "dry" area to constitute themselves as a "private club."
So don't be surprised if you are asked by your bartender or waitress if you are a "member" when you place your drink order.
No worry though because if you're not you'll discover that the membership requirements are rather lax. Indeed, if you're over 21 and and maintaining homeostasis you've met the requirements and membership is generally free and can be conferred immediately.
Most such "private clubs" use a service called Unicard which maintains the records which the law requires concerning club membership. Your server will take your name, address and birthdate and issue you a temporary membership card that is good in all establishments which are part of the Unicard system.
