How to Spot a Fake ID and Prevent Underage Alcohol Sales

Written by Staff Writer

Alcoholic beverages are age-restricted products in the United States, and you must be 21 years of age or older to legally purchase them. This includes beer, wine, hard cider, liquor/spirits, ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails and even some higher-alcohol varieties of kombucha.

Alcohol isn’t the only age-restricted product — cannabis (where legal), tobacco and nicotine products, as well as many over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements and pharmaceuticals also carry age restrictions. However, alcohol is by far the most commonly available and misused. But, even with age restrictions, minors often find ways to get their hands on alcoholic beverages and other age-restricted items.

One of the main ways minors do this is by using a fake ID or through criminal impersonation — illegally using valid identification belonging to someone else who is of legal age. That person is likely a friend, an older sibling or someone who looks similar to them. If you work anywhere alcohol or other age-restricted items are sold, it’s essential to quickly detect fake ID cards and fraudulent identification and know what to do if a minor tries to purchase alcohol.

Common Ways to Spot Fake ID Cards

Minors have used fake IDs to purchase alcohol for a long time. But, with advancements in technology, fake IDs are now easier to get and more difficult to identify. While some fakes might be so good that they’re nearly impossible to discern from valid IDs, most still display signs — some more obvious than others — that they’re not legitimate.

Here are some of the most common red flags and how you should examine physical features to verify the authenticity of a driver license, state ID or other government-issued photo ID.

An Expired ID

The first things to verify are whether the person is 21 years of age or older and whether the ID is current. Every card has an issue date and an expiration date, a birth date and other identifying information. Some will also have a “Minor Until” date. But, even if the person is 21 or older, it’s important to remember that an expired ID does not count as valid identification, even if it is otherwise legitimate.

This trick is one of the oldest in the book: Minors will often try to use a friend’s or older sibling’s old card, hoping that employees won’t notice that they’re not that person or that it’s expired. Unless patrons also have a valid temporary ID, you cannot accept an expired license as proof of age. However, this also depends on your employer’s policy. Many bars and restaurants do not accept a temporary license as a valid form of identification.

Poor Print Quality and Inconsistent Fonts

Every ID has information printed on the front and back of the card. While all that data is important, you should also look at the quality of the text itself. The text on an authentic ID should be clear and easy to read. Conversely, fakes often have poor print quality with inconsistent fonts, blurry text and different font sizes for the same type of text.

When examining an ID, make sure:

• Fonts and font sizes are consistent for the type of information.
• Text is legible and easy to read.
• The signature looks real and is not simply a cursive font.
• Photos and lines are clear with well-defined borders.
• There are no lines, smears or other artifacts from printing.

Uneven Areas or Glue Lines

Whenever you check someone’s identification, you need to do more than look at it — it’s important to physically hold the card to examine it for uneven areas or raised surfaces. Many fake IDs, especially those that are homemade or of low quality, were real IDs altered with a new picture on top of the original image. Sometimes the counterfeit is laminated in an attempt to conceal the alteration.

An ID is likely fake if there are:

• Glue lines anywhere, especially around the photo.
• Raised edges around the birth date or photo that you can see or feel.
• Raised surfaces or thickness variations.

Poor Lamination

One of the hallmark signs of a fake ID is poor-quality lamination. Valid identification cards are laser cut from polycarbonate plastic and engraved. They will always feel high quality and often have subtle textures in specific areas. Additionally, the edges on authentic IDs are smooth and uniform with a slightly rounded profile.

When looking at someone’s ID, make sure:

• There are no bubbles or wrinkles, which are classic signs of DIY lamination.
• The edge doesn’t peel, separate, give or buckle.
• It has uniform, rounded edges and corners, and rounded corners aren’t sharp or jagged.

If it looks or feels low quality, or like it was laminated rather than laser cut from a sheet of thin plastic, it’s probably a fake.

Poor Quality or Missing Security Features

Most government-issued identifications have security features to make them difficult to counterfeit and easy to identify as legitimate. These security features — holograms, watermarks, UV-reactive blacklight chalking marks, foils, micro print, laser-cut perforations and unique tactile elements — are nearly impossible to perfectly reproduce. That’s why fakes are often missing holograms or other security features, or they rely on low-quality fabricated security features that don’t look as crisp or clean as real ones.

To reveal security features and make blacklight chalking marks and watermarks visible, you can use a UV light. This is especially helpful in dark settings like bars, clubs or concert venues. If you don’t have a UV light, another way to identify a fake ID is to tilt it back and forth in the light to reveal holograms and foils. Holograms and foils should not be uniformly bright. Instead, they should flash in and out of sight.

Your state will have unique security features, so you should become familiar with local designs by examining your own identification card to verify features visible to the eye. You should also consult your state’s secretary of state website to learn about additional security features that may be more difficult to see.

Physical Appearance Discrepancies

When checking someone’s ID, you should always compare the photo, physical description and the person in front of you. Just because someone doesn’t look exactly like their picture doesn’t mean you’re holding a fake. However, if you notice major inconsistencies, you’re right to be suspicious.

Be particularly skeptical when:

• The photo doesn’t look like the person in front of you.
• The photo doesn’t match the physical description on the card.
• The photo is of someone who looks similar but is visibly older.
• The photo includes a hat, glasses or sunglasses; these generally aren’t allowed, except for documented medical or religious purposes.

Though a person’s appearance may change, even significantly, you can look at features that tend to remain constant. These include their height, facial bone structure and eye color. If these are drastically different, you should ask for another government-issued photo ID for verification.

Digitally Altered Photos, Blurry Photos and Non-Standard Backgrounds

Don’t forget to check the photo quality and background. Government offices like the department of motor vehicles or secretary of state all use direct lighting, high-quality cameras and solid color backgrounds. Though well-crafted forgeries may use high-resolution photos, most people aren’t using these simply to buy alcohol or other age-restricted items.

To help you verify authenticity, photo identifications should not have:

• Low quality, pixelated or blurry photos.
• Photos with strong shadows and poor or indirect lighting.
• Photos with perfect lighting and/or no shadows.
• Digitally altered or AI-generated photos; you may notice that the person looks unnatural, too smooth or has distorted features.
• Non-standard or unusual backgrounds — anything that’s not solid and light-colored.

What to Do if You Suspect an ID Is Fake

If you notice red flags or have a gut feeling that someone is trying to use a fake or fraudulent ID, there are several ways to verify that they’re 21 or older.

Ask for a Second Form of ID

The easiest thing you can do is to ask for a second form of identification. People who are trying to use a fake rarely carry a matching backup. A second form of identification should always be another government-issued credential, such as a military ID, Native American tribal ID or passport.

Ask Them to Recall Specific Information

If a patron doesn’t have a valid second form identification, another strategy is to ask questions about specific information listed on their card.

You might ask things like:

• What’s your driver license or ID number?
• What is your address and zip code?
• How do you spell your middle name?
• What is your birthday, and how old are you?

Additionally, you can also ask them to sign their name and then compare it to the signature on their ID.

Even if they answer your questions correctly, watch how they react. If they look anxious or avoid eye contact, it’s worth asking more questions. If they can’t answer, answer incorrectly or the signatures don’t match, their ID is most likely fake.

Quiz Them About Where They Live

If you suspect an out-of-state ID might be fake, and you’re unfamiliar with that state’s security features, ask them about things you know about that state. This might include its capital, tourist attractions or neighborhoods in a major metropolitan area.

You can also ask questions that include intentionally misleading statements to trip them up. For example, if their ID says they’re from Chicago, you might ask, “What’s it like living in the capital of Illinois?” Since the capital is Springfield, not Chicago, you can be fairly certain they’re not a local if they fail to correct you.

Similarly, if you know a lot about where they claim to live, whether in state or out of state, you can ask them about bars, restaurants or other venues that either don’t actually exist or that closed before they would have turned 21. They may try to project confidence that they’re of legal drinking age and say they go there all the time. That’s when you know they’re lying.

How to Refuse Service

If you know, or strongly suspect, that the person trying to purchase alcohol is not old enough to do so, you have the right to refuse service. If you’re not confident, it doesn’t hurt to double-check with your manager first. Your manager can also look over the ID and give a second opinion.

In many states, you may (or must) confiscate a card if you’re certain it is a counterfeit. You’re also entitled, but not required, to call the police, as attempting to use a fake ID is a criminal offense.

You can protect your establishment’s reputation and prevent potential liability simply by politely refusing service. There are no penalties for refusing service to someone whom you suspect is a minor. It’s better to be cautious when it comes to serving alcohol or selling any age-restricted item.

Penalties for Selling or Serving Alcohol to Minors

It is a serious offense to give, sell or serve alcohol to a minor. Additionally, both you and your employer could be held liable, not only for the offense, but also for damages if that minor later causes injury, death or property damage due to intoxication.

Alcohol Compliance Checks

It’s common practice for state alcohol licensing authorities and law enforcement agencies to perform alcohol compliance checks of bars, restaurants and other businesses that sell or serve alcohol. To perform these checks, regulators typically send a minor into the establishment to purchase alcohol.

If a business is caught selling alcohol to a minor, it can result in substantial fines, license suspension and possible revocation. Additionally, employees can be found individually liable and face criminal charges and civil penalties.

Training to Help Prevent Underage Alcohol Sales

Three key habits will help you prevent alcohol sales to minors:

1. Always check every customer’s ID.
2. Know how to spot a fake ID or identify someone using another person’s identification.
3. Remain up to date on your alcohol seller-server training.

Remember, there’s no penalty for refusing service to someone you suspect is underage or using a fake ID. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Doing so will protect you and your employer from the fines and legal consequences of selling alcohol to someone underage.