Near the end of last month, students received an email from campus security on a very serious note: “State agencies say they will crack down on fake IDs in Canton and Potsdam.” The endeavour comes as part of a statewide effort led by the State Liquor Association and Governor Cuomo’s office to combat underage drinking on college campuses such as SUNY Potsdam and St. Lawrence.
The effort involves making sweeps of any establishment licensed to sell alcohol such as bars, restaurants and liquor stores, searching for fake IDs and underage sales. Minors who attempt to buy alcohol can be arrested, and the business who sell them alcohol can be fined up to $10,000 for each offense.
The crackdown is due in part to fake IDs becoming an online market. Students can now order IDs on the internet, which can range from $60 to $300, according to Fox News 29. Many of the IDs are made in Asia and then shipped by cargo plane to Philadelphia, where they get sent to up to 20 different states. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson Steve Sapp told Fox News 29 that they have seized nearly 500 fake IDs at the Philadelphia airport since mid-May. “We’ve seen them coming in batches, sometimes two, more often than not, we see a dozen or more in a package,” Sapp said.
Fox News 29 also interviewed an anonymous student, who said they purchased their ID online for only $50. When asked how effective the ID was, the student said it was a quality ID and usually got them where they needed to go.
Sergeant Patrick Gagnon of St. Lawrence Safety and Security recommends that students steer clear of fake IDs, as the consequences are strict. He also noted that since it constitutes forging a government document it could make getting a government job in the future challenging. “These are charges that nobody needs, and they just create trouble for the person who got them further down the line,” Gagnon said.
Governor Cuomo said that he hopes to prevent tragedy among young people under 21. “Underage drinking can lead to bad decisions that could have lifelong consequences, or worse, and this administration is committed to taking proactive measures to prevent young New Yorkers from purchasing and abusing alcohol,” Cuomo said in a statement.
However, Governor Cuomo’s office recognizes this may seem grim news to carefree college students. “We are not out to spoil the start of anyone’s semester. Our goal is to deter underage students from abusing alcohol and possibly putting their lives and the lives of others at risk,” DMV Executive Deputy Commissioner Terri Egan told the Pound Ridge Daily Voice.