17 Nov 2009

Bars to use high-tech ID scanner

11:16 am on 17 November 2009

The chief executive of the Hospitality Association says bar owners are adopting high-tech equipment to stop underage drinkers using fake drivers licenses.

An Auckland high school student was on Monday charged with forgery for selling hundreds of fake licences to teenagers across the region.

Bruce Robertson says there should be tougher penalties for those using false IDs to buy alcohol.

He says under the current law, bar or shop owners can be prosecuted for serving underage drinkers, even if they have been conned.

Mr Robertson says a portable scanner that analyses licenses for signs of forgery becomes available to bars next week.