Fake ID youths locked in pub
A licensee locked more than 20 teenagers in the downstairs bar of his pub and telephoned police after suspecting the youngsters were carrying fake ID cards.
Host Ronny Carter said his actions represented a fight back against under-age drinkers who used "perfect forgeries" to hoodwink doormen and barstaff.
Carter, who runs the G-Bar in Oxford city centre, said he had been engaged in a running battle against intelligent and affluent teenagers who had the means to obtain the forged cards.
Police officers called to the bar conceded there was no way of differentiating between the faked cards and the real thing.
When we told the kids what was happening they panicked and tried to hide the cards down their pantsLicensee Ronny Carter.
Carter revealed that one piece of ID seized was a driving licence which even featured an apparently official DVLA hologram.
"They are perfect forgeries and impossible to detect and its making our job a nightmare," Carter said.
"These people were spending about £100 an hour but it would cost me a lot more if the police raided us and charged us with serving under-age [drinkers]," he said.
"When we told the kids what was happening they panicked and tried to hide the cards down their pants. It was a gamble but I'm glad I took the action I did."
Police seized the suspect cards and issued warnings against all 23 of the youngsters.
A police spokesman said: "We support the action Mr Carter took in trying to tackle the problem of under-age drinking and if other licensees have similar concerns they should take the same action and contact us."
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