Will I need to carry my Passport to get a beer in Boston?

I'm guessing my Drivers License will be useless as it's Irish so Bar Staff, Door men etc won't be able to ascertain it's validity. I don't feel comfortable carrying my Passport around a strange city in case I lose it. I usually leave it in a hotel safe or something like that. I'm 30 and look it, but I realize US is a lot stricter regarding ID etc than we are. Are there any other alternatives, eg I've been to places where I've carried around a photocopy of my Passport along with my license, and that has been accepted.

A photocopy would be useless. And as far as what bars will take your license and which won't, it will depend on the bar. They should, as they could only verifiy that as much as they could verify your Irish passport, I would imagine. Sad to say, but I think it will be trial and error. I would be surprised if you wouldn't get asked for ANY ID, so at least plan on that- my mom gets carded all the time still.

If your driver's license has a photo and your birthdate I think it will be sufficient. I would use that and a photocopy of your passport for a back up.

Bars check id but are really more concerned about people who appear to be 21 or younger. This is also more of an issue in bars that are frequented by college-aged people.

A photocopy of your passport will be considered worthless.

Your driver's license should suffice. Remember we have 50 different states each of which issues its own drivers license. I've never had a problem with my Pennsylvania license in other states, and I'm sure in some of them it's the first time any of them have ever seen a license from Pennsylvania.

I think this all depends on the bar and the person checking ID's. Hopefully since you look 30 anyway, you'll be OK, but I wouldn't want to say that every bar in Boston would let you in no problem. I still get some suspicious looks from bouncers and bartenders from my Mass license...and I'm 28!

Drivers license should be good, but since it is from outside the US, I would carry the passport just to be on the safe side.

I think carrying a copy of your passport along with your lisence should be fine. Have fun here in Boston its great Craic! but so is Ireland I miss it terribly.

Yes you will need your passport for a lot of places, but not just a photocopy of it, the actual passport