The extent of the use of fake ID cards in Bermuda's bars and clubs by under-age people is today revealed in The Royal Gazette.

The use of false identification is nothing new to the streets of the Island, however, the authenticity of fake cards these days has reached such high standards that often bar owners find them difficult to differentiate.

And now young people are said to be duplicating Bermuda drivers' licences in a bid to enter the Island's adult social scene before their time.

Two 17-year-old Bermudian girls, who attend school in England, told The Royal Gazette how they managed to get fake ID cards by simply sending off their details to a company advertised in the back of a magazine.

Speaking in Docksiders bar on Front Street, one said: “It was just in the back of a British men's magazine and I just sent it to them and I received my ID card. I think you could use it as a real ID card. I just simply sent the company all the stuff I wanted on it, and they sent it back to me.

“Sometimes, (back in Bermuda) I just pretend I'm a tourist - that I'm just English and this is just my ID card, and that I just don't have a driver's licence.”

But the girls, who looked much older than 17, admitted that they had not even been asked on Friday night to show their identification.

“”Today, they didn't even ask us for our ID's because if you are wearing low tops, like this, they won't ask,” added the young girl, who asked not to be named.

“I just walked in... and I thought ‘cool'.”

But a Royal Gazette reporter found numerous people in Docksiders that were underage, and everyone except the two 17-year-old girls had shown credible fake ID cards to gain entry.

Manager at Flanagan's Irish bar on Front Street Sam Bezant admitted that fake ID cards had been a problem over the years, but his security was able to differentiate between fakes and the real thing.

He said since Flanagan's had opened 14 years ago, over 50 fake ID cards had been seized each year, and the problem had now led to the Transport Control Department (TCD) taking harsh measures.

People found to be making or possessing fake ID cards can now be reported to TCD and fined up to $1,600 and possibly jailed for up to six months.

Mr. Bezant said he could tell fake Bermudian driving licences because most were discoloured and poorly done, and some were off kilter.

He said he called TCD whenever fake driver's licences were found, and let them deal with the situation, but he understood that parents were called.

A TCD circular letter sent to club owners on the Island last week said: “Not only is it an offence to alter a Bermuda driver's licence, but it is a serious offence involving fraud.

“In addition, we are concerned that young people are using these fake ID's to gain access to alcohol, which could lead to other unwise decisions - such as driving while under the influence.”

A Pickled Onion representative said it sometimes had underage people trying to enter the restaurant and bar, but that fake ID's were not necessarily a problem.

However, a representative said: “We are pleased that TCD has taken the necessary steps.”

Owner of the Docksiders bar Reed Young said he was well aware of the problem with fake identification cards on the Island, but said there was only so much licensed premises could do.

“The best that we can do is card people (ask for ID),” said Mr. Young.

“We have security on the door that ID people coming in and I basically tell them not to card (ID) anyone who looks over 21.

“But we can only do so much. Our policy is to ask for passports and driver's licences - we don't accept anything else, but I hear that even some driver's licences are fake now.”

Mr. Reed said there were times where people were admitted to the club with what appeared to be real ID, but who did not look the legal age of at least 18.

However, he said there was little that could be done.

“If they have a passport or a driver's licence that looks real then we would let them in because we can run into mistakes where people might look 15 but are actually 21,” he added.

“We ask for passports and driver's licences partly because they are the most difficult to forge, so as far as possible, we are making sure that people who come into the club are of age, but it's always going to be difficult when fake cards are out there that look real.”

And Guido Esposito, owner of the Blue Juice bar, said his security staff experienced similar problems.

“We check, but sometimes it's very hard,” said Mr. Esposito.

“They seem to be able to make the cards very professionally now, so it's difficult to tell that they are fake.

“It has happened to us where we found a fake one, so we found out, but it's not easy to know. And sometimes people come in who look young, but you just sometimes don't know. If they have the ID, there is nothing you can do. We just try to do our job.”

Police media spokesman Dwayne Caines yesterday said he was aware of the problem with fake ID cards, but warned that young people could find themselves before the courts in serious trouble.

He said: “The Bermuda Police Service is aware that fake identification is being used on the Island by our underage teenagers.

“We would like to remind would-be revellers that they are committing a crime when using these cards and it's a serious offence to duplicate authentic Government issued identification, and it's punishable by fine and or time in prison.

“And so we will be working in consultation with liquor licence premises to see what we can do in tandem to deal with the problem.

“But we are also asking for parents to be vigilant of their youngster's whereabouts and the cards that they carry.”