Final answer:
Applicants under 18 receive ID cards with red and yellow color bars indicating their 18th and 21st birthdays. These indicators are used for legal age verification for activities like purchasing tobacco and alcohol, in line with legislation such as the National Minimum Drinking Age Act. The colors serve as a quick reference to enforce laws regarding age-restricted activities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Applicants under age 18 receive license/ID cards with two color bars, red and yellow, next to their photo indicating their 18th and 21st birthdays. These visual indicators are designed to help easily identify the legal age for purchasing tobacco and alcohol, which are set at 18 and 21 years respectively due to regulations such as the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984. This act required states to set the minimum legal drinking age to 21 or risk losing federal highway funds, significantly impacting state laws.
Such measures also align with laws concerning voter identification and eligibility, wherein individuals must present valid photo ID that matches voter registration records to vote. This can create a financial barrier for some, as attaining the necessary documentation may involve costs. Despite this, the law ensures that citizens can obtain a free state identification card if needed, particularly important during election periods where state offices extend their hours for ID issuance. These age indicators on IDs also play a role in legal discrimination, a concept where the government imposes different treatment based on age as seen in eligibility for driving licenses, smoking, and alcohol consumption.