The minimum drinking age in almost all American States is 21, and you may well be asked to provide ID to show that you are old enough to drink in bars. Licensing hours tend to be fairly flexible in the main cities, and bars are often open right through the night meaning that you can get a drink whenever you want.
Alcohol is slightly cheaper than in the UK, and most bars serve bottles and half pints rather than pints. Wine bars attract a sophisticated - older - crowd, and are more expensive than pubs.
Nightclubs in the main cities are on the whole quite relaxed, although the most popular and fashionable ones do tend to have dress codes based on how trendy rather than how smart you look.
