Fake age cards sell for €40

INCREASINGLY sophisticated fake age cards are being sold on the black market to young people for €40 each.

While the trade in the cards is still small, off licence owners will today outline the problems faced by their staff trying to identify the fake from the genuine.

Sophisticated and accessible printers and software is helping to produce cards that are very similar to the 167,000 issued by the State over the last three years.

But the gardaí have moved to curb the trade and a number of files detailing investigations in to individuals alleged to have been producing and selling bogus ID cards have been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Superintendent Vincent Maguire, whose national Juvenile Liaison Office issues and manages the age cards, said it was a small scale "attic" industry and that the trade is being driven by word of mouth among school children.

Bogus age cards being sold for up to €40 are the more sophisticated while there are other home-made cards that are more obviously fakes. The genuine ones cost €6.

Supt Maguire advises staff with any doubts to ask for alternative identification, such as a driving licence or a passport. If there is still doubt, they should refuse to sell.

The National Off-Licence Association (NOffLA), which is organising a seminar on how the industry can police and prevent underage drinking, is to detail the problems faced by staff, including forged IDs, adults purchasing for young people and abusive customers.

John Shiel, NOffLA's chairman, will use the seminar to call for the introduction of mandatory identity cards, claiming a failure to do so will lead to an escalation of the problem of underage drinking.

His association, which represents 300 off-licence owners nationwide, wants all its members to sign up to a "self regulatory" scheme. Once signed up, off licences would have to organise staff training and would be subjected to spot checks from the industry's own watchdogs.

The NOffLA denies this is an attempt to head off Department of Justice plans for mandatory training scheme for those in the drinks trade, both on and off licence

Supt Maguire advises staff to look out for thin, glossier cards, with a darker border than the real ones.

At the City west seminar today, three 17-year-olds will present a range of fake IDs, to coincide with the launch of a new-age awareness poster.

The conference will be attended by off-licence owners who have signed up to the self-regulatory scheme, entitled Responsible Trading in the Community.

2002 alcohol offences

3,985 drink-related offences by under-18s were reported.

2,043 related to the purchase, consumption and possession of alcohol.

1,898 related to being drunk in a public place.

Proceedings commenced in:

234 cases against persons alleged to have supplied or sold alcohol to under-18s.

362 cases against licensees alleged to have allowed juveniles to drink on their premises.

76 cases against someone under 18 accused of buying and consuming alcohol using a fake ID.

114 cases against adults accused of purchasing and delivering alcohol to youngsters.