Teenagers have become savvier when it comes to acquiring alcohol in Potchefstroom, creating fake ID’s, often they slip a drink at a restaurant or club at ages as young as 14.

Teens in Potchefstroom have gone to the extent of counterfeiting ID’s at home. Taking an older friend’s ID, editing their photo onto it with the “sticker” option in the “stories” section on Instagram and printing it. Some simply use an older sibling’s ID, or take a picture of a home-made counterfeit ID and showing it at a club or restaurant. Many minors in Potchefstroom then post pictures of them sporting alcohol on social media.

Often, teens as young as 14 go out with older teens and slip by undetected, or are not asked for IDs. One teen, who spoke to the Herald on the condition of anonymity recalls when a friend, who is 15, went out with grade 11s to Impala night club and was not asked for an ID. Another teen who is 15 went to River Café and was also not asked for an ID. Teens Sometimes get away with showing pictures of their ID’s, instead of the actual documents.

Tertius Esterhuizen, the owner of Impala night club, says “discretion” is used to decide whether it is necessary to ask for an ID, as it is a logistical problem to ask everyone. There are up to 20 underage teens who are chased out of the club during the festive season, but some simply, “slip by,” as counterfeit IDs often look unmistakable, “If it looks like an original ID, they will get away with it,” says Esterhuizen.

A manager at River Café says you can see, “In someone’s behaviour,” whether they are underage in ordering alcohol, and when asked to show an ID, they must show the original. There is no law that requires everyone ordering alcohol to be asked for an ID, and discretion is not always enough. “It’s important for us to not serve alcohol to minors, but sometimes they get away with it,” she says.