You be the bouncer

Doormen say catching fake IDs not an easy task

Just how easy is it for an underage drinker to get into one of the most popular college bars in town using someone else’s photo ID?

The state says it’s too easy and is trying to revoke the liquor license of The Hawk, 1340 Ohio.

But The Hawk’s owners say they train their doormen carefully to catch fake IDs – something that’s not always easy to do.

The photos here allow readers to see for themselves and to test their skills as a bar bouncer.

On the left of each pair of images are actual photos of people who were cited for being a minor in possession of alcohol at The Hawk, released by the state in response to an open-records request by the Journal-World. On the right are photos from an actual ID the person used to get into the bar, according to the state.

So, which pairs of photos depict the same two faces? And which are examples of someone using another person’s ID? (The answer is below).

Ebony Simon, a bouncer at Louise’s, took the quiz and missed two of eight. He said a few of the photos were close calls, and a few were obvious fakes.

“You have to stay on your toes. You can’t really have an off night when you’re checking IDs,” he said “It’s just a judgment call.”

Answer: Each pair of photos depicts two different people. In each case, the person on the left was able to use the ID photo on his or her right to get into The Hawk, according to the state.