There is a largely illegal market for fake identification and drinking by minors. Many American minors use phony IDs to pass as adults to enter bars, purchase alcohol, and engage in unlawful drinking. The demand for false IDs comes primarily from American college and high school students, who then source them from suppliers in other countries through a complex web of relationships. Some people place orders straight from vendors in foreign nations while submitting their data and images.
However, the phony ID is no longer required after turning 21 and getting a genuine ID. Thus, there is another underground market for fake IDs that are ultimately sold to young people in need who want to drink and go out to bars with their pals. The interest in bogus identification will keep on skyrocketing as underage drinking continues to rouse the interest of teens. Without a fake ID, teens will resort to asking others to purchase it for them, but this does not at all solve the concern for underage drinking. The black market for fake id drivers license will continue to be in demand and will continue to grow.
For American teenagers, underage drinking and using fake IDs are rites of passage because when they engage in adult behaviors, their social position changes to one more akin to that of an adult. According to a psychology professor at Colgate University, “Americans like the illicit part of [underage drinking]—they see that as a rite of passage.” [iii] Her use of the pronoun “Americans” in the singular also highlights the distinctiveness of the 21+ law for alcohol consumption in the United States and the country’s distinctive binge drinking culture among teenagers. Adolescents require phony IDs to partake in this cultural initiation into adulthood because American law prohibits teens from lawfully consuming or purchasing alcohol. Teenagers in America constantly look for the chance to partake in these illegal behaviors because they view them as rites of passage in American culture.
Teenagers also crave alcohol, especially in large amounts, because they perceive it as a pleasant experience. The “instant satisfaction” that alcohol offers is one of the main reasons teenagers drink. Because alcohol’s effects can be felt rapidly, especially among kids who frequently binge drink, it offers an immediate benefit. Teenagers claim that drinking makes them feel more social and loosen them up, yet alcohol can also produce drowsiness, nausea, and headaches. One could argue that these sensations of “fun” or “loosened up” only reflect one’s expectation of consuming alcohol rather than the results of it. However, as long as teenagers expect alcohol drinking as a source of entertainment, they will never let go of unlawful practices to get what they want, like acquiring a fake ID.
Another common reason students in Washington, DC, or in general acquire fake IDs is peer pressure. Social media is a huge contributory factor. When a teen sees their friends enjoying themselves while drinking alcohol, they want to experience the same thing so they do not get left behind. Social media and actual life peer pressure influence juvenile drinking, which leads to the high demand for faux identification. Many youths mimic what others do, even if they do not like it or are unsure about what they are doing, just to be “in.” Because of this, the counterfeit ID and hard liquor industries benefit so much that even state laws cannot fight them.
Nowadays, Netflix and watching movies and shows for free also influence juvenile alcohol consumption. Several teen shows depict drinking by college students as cool and culturally normal. Some shows probably have characters making irrational moves to get into the club, like showing a fake ID. Because these movies and TV shows appeal to the young generation, the characters encourage their viewers to do what they are doing because they make it seem interesting and normal, even if what they are doing is wrong.
The internet has become a commodity, especially for youth, so accessing fake ID sites is a no-brainer. They can access overseas sources and comply with the information they ask for. The offshore producer then ships the IDs by concealing them in another package. It is easy to order a fake ID nowadays because the internet has made it possible.
The target audience of websites is underage teens, and they make the ordering process easier to draw in more customers. They offer promos and discounts like a huge markdown when bought in bulk; hence, teens influence their friends. This persuades more and more underage youth to order, and the news spreads through word of mouth. Since the internet has made faux ID processing more accessible and convenient, this industry grows by the minute.
In interviews, students admit that they experience nervousness when they use their counterfeit IDs. But they would rather experience the anxiety than miss out on the fun of accessing bars and drinking hard liquor. Many students go as far as changing their social media names to their fake IDs in case inspectors go for identity checks. Teens are willing to do and risk anything to enjoy the privileges of legal-aged individuals.
Another tip from an interviewee is to appear very confident when the inspector asks so they will not catch you. You should be well-versed in the information written on your counterfeit ID. One mistake can screw you. One more thing: even if the ID is high-quality, the address and other information, though phony, must be believable.
