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Underage bar patrons: 'There's always somebody'

A young woman who frequented downtown bars in St. John's as an underager says club owners are losing the battle when it comes to keeping minors outside their doors — and Facebook is providing a new tool to help teenagers get inside.

On any given night, there are patrons under the age of 19 inside bars on George Street, she said.

"Pretty much every bar, there's always somebody," said the young woman.

The CBC has agreed to protect her identity, and will refer to her as Renee for this story.

Last year, photos of underage patrons inside Allure on George were published online, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation suspended the club's licence for 11 days.

Renee, who has since turned 19, was among the minors inside Allure that night.

And late last month, the club's licence was suspended for a second time — this time for 90 days — for similar infractions.

Renee feels bad that Allure's licence has been suspended because she said the club strictly enforces the 19-and-over age law.

Renee said bar employees have a difficult job, because it's hard to tell who's of legal age.

Not an isolated problem

While Allure has been given a 90-day suspension of its liquor licence, Luc Viau, one of the bar's owners, said it's government's responsibility to take a closer look at how teens are gaining access.

Viau said the NLC paid 10 surprise visits to his bar in the last year, and have found no infractions.

But he added that despite increased security at the doors, young people are still getting in because they're able to present seemingly authentic IDs.

"They're getting fake IDs somehow and it's a bit of a game of cat and mouse between our doormen and our patrons," he said.

"It's a big problem and I think as much as we do what we can, I think it will have to come back on the government to see what could be done about this problem."

Viau added that an ideal solution could be ID scanners at the doors of clubs, and scanner-friendly IDs. Or at least better photo quality on government issued identification.

Facebook used to help find IDs

But it's not just a simple matter of checking identification cards.

Renee said minors have found a unique new way to circumvent security measures.

They are buying IDs from adults who look like them, she said.

Renee paid $20 for her ID from a stranger she found while trolling around on Facebook.

"Pretty much all my friends who are underage right now they all have fake IDs, or they're looking for someone who looks like them," she said.

Renee said she was never questioned about her "fake" ID.

"I was never scared to go anywhere with it because I felt my ID was good enough to work," she said.

Renee understands that by sharing her information, clubs will tighten up their security measures.

But she doesn't think it will stop underagers from trying.

"People want to fit in so there's nothing that will stop it," she said.

For Viau, the three-month closure is a financial hit as a businessman, as expenses still need to be paid in the interim.

He added that because of the closure, his 30-35 staff members are out of work.

Viau said he understands the draw of clubs for young people, but he would ask them to consider this story and the potential consequences of attending bars while underage.