Is Tech Making Connecticut Fake ID Better or Worse?

Posted by Grayce on June 29th, 2021

In a world where children are being asked to grow up far too soon, many teens are attempting to skip a few years and begin drinking before they are of legal age. The internet and advanced printing technology has made it possible for teens to obtain fake IDs that look incredibly close to the real thing.

Unfortunately, a server or bartender may find it very difficult to tell whether a patron is of age just by looking, which is why it is crucial to always check IDs, no matter how old the customer looks. But what if a minor uses a fake ID... and a good one at that?

Serving to a minor could not only cost you your job - it could also lead to your restaurant or bar having its liquor license revoked, thus leading to complete business failure. After all, a bar that can no longer serve alcohol simply cannot stay afloat.

Below are the alcohol age laws as they pertain to the state of Texas, along with some ID-checking tips to catch any fake ones that end up in your hands. This way, you will ensure that neither you nor your business is caught serving alcohol to a minor, and your liquor license (and your job!) will remain intact.

Texas Alcohol Age and Identification Laws

The federally-mandated age for legal alcohol consumption is 21. Establishments throughout the country must always check IDs to ensure that they are not serving to anyone under that age. However, Texas has some individual state laws that dictate how and when a person must show identification - and these may not necessarily coincide with specific company policies in place at bars or restaurants.

According to Texas state law, a person over 21 years of age is NOT required to show identification to purchase alcohol. There is also nothing in the alcohol laws which dictate the "proper" type of ID that one may use to purchase alcoholic beverages. However, Texas law also states that a person or establishment will NOT be held criminally liable for underage sales if the minor in question provided an "apparently valid" proof of identification and "falsely represented" themselves as being 21.

For this reason, most Texas establishments will and can require all patrons to produce proof of identification, even though it is not required by law.

This way, they will not be held responsible if that person is, in fact, a minor with a very good fake ID. They are protected under Texas state law, and can legally establish their own company policy on mandatory ID checks.

Spotting Fake IDs

So how do you know whether the Texas ID card you're looking at is the real deal? Here are some tips to ensure that you are able to tell the difference between a government-issued ID and an imposter.

Make sure the license is not in a vertical format. This is a dead giveaway for an underage customer.

Feel for the proper thickness and texture of the card. IDs are not made out of cardboard or stiff plastic like credit cards. Feel for any bumps or raised edges, or anything else irregular.

Check the expiration date. If the license is expired, it may or may not be fake.

Check the birth date and the photo, as these are commonly-altered areas on IDs. If something looks fishy, call your supervisor.

Have a flashlight with you to check for characteristics like watermarks or state seals.

If your suspicions are aroused, ask the person in question to state their birth date and address. If they do not recite them accurately, or are hesitant in their response, the ID is likely a fake.

As a final resort, ask the person to sign their name, and compare it to the signature on the ID card.

The more that you make these types of behaviors a common routine, the more likely you will be to spot any irregularities - in fact, they should practically jump out at you! Another excellent way to brush up on your skills is to take a TABC certification course.

These courses, sanctioned by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, include all of the proper behaviors to check Maryland Fake ID identification, as well as how to handle intoxicated customers, and helpful hazard prevention techniques.

Jay Dorson, expert in writing 'Alcohol Safety' tips for all USA alcohol sellers and servers to serve alcohol responsibly. Alcohol seller/server TABC Certification certification is regarding alcohol awareness class online and alcohol server training techniques.