Fake IDs jeopardise pub underage battle
BII boss John McNamara has slated the "bastards" who produce fake ID cards that under-18s use to buy alcohol.
As Government continues to put pressure on pubs to stop underage sales, McNamara hit out at the "bloody dangerous" novelty IDs hampering trade attempts to tackle the problem.
An MA web search this week found around 10 companies that would dispatch ID cards for £10 or less.
They mirror the look of well-known ID cards but have different lettering. They are legal because they do not reproduce the logos or exact design of well-known cards.
But McNamara said: "They might be within the law, but they break every moral code. We find that these so-called amusement cards are bloody dangerous.
Within our industry we are making every effort to reduce underage drinking and these bastards are putting cards in young people's hands BII boss John McNamara
"It's cynical exploitation of children.
"Within our industry we are making every effort to reduce underage drinking and these bastards are putting cards in young people's hands."
Ultimate Leisure chairman Mark Jones said the use of fake ID is "widespread and getting increasingly sophisticated".
"We are now heading to a situation where the only form of ID that is acceptable is a passport and maybe a UK driving licence," Jones said.
"We are moving to a situation where the industry will have to support national ID cards. We almost get the feeling central Government is not interested in taking false ID seriously."
Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations chief executive Tony Payne also criticised card producers: "It's sad that a company is prepared to make it easier for people to drink underage."
Robert Humphreys, chairman of the Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS), urged licensees to look out for the PASS hologram to check IDs are genuine.
He said he was not aware of any cards that reproduce the hologram. The logo is trademarked so legal action can be taken if it is used without permission.
A Home Office spokeswoman declined to comment on fake ID cards but said the introduction of ID cards, from 2008/2009, will help combat underage sales. She also supported the PASS scheme.
Despite the surge in fake IDs, Greene King Pub Partners managing director David Elliott stressed: "There is no excuse whatsoever for knowingly serving underage drinkers. If you're not sure then don't."
Trade bodies recommend pubs only accept photo driving licences, passports and ID cards featuring the PASS logo.
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