Under 21 at the Club and Bar Scene: Age Verification Tips

Formerly, patrons had to be 21 or older to even get past the doors at bars and clubs. However, now, more and more late-night venues are opening their doors to the 18 and up crowd. This younger crowd brings more opportunities for revenue from cover charges or ticket sales and also from food and non-alcoholic beverage sales, not to mention the revenue opportunities from those of drinking age who only chose to visit establishments which don’t force them to exclude their under-21 friends.

Welcoming the 18 and up crowd comes with potential business benefits but more measures have to be taken in terms of age verification. Some venues use permanent marker to scrawl a black "X" across the under 21 patrons’ hands to denote their underage status. However, the large black X has left a stigma with this crowd, and can also be washed-off by a more determined underage patron. Some bars and clubs use a stamp to denote who is under drinking age. This has the same pitfalls as a marker. Other venues use the stamp to denote who is of drinking age. There are potential falsifications of this method too. If the stamp is common it can be purchased by patrons and they can stamp anyone they please. Yet even if the stamp is unique, the stamp can be replicated or even drawn on if a person wanted to falsify their age.

Many bars and clubs now use wristbands for age verification. Whether they give the wristbands to the under drinking age patrons or to the drinking age patrons or both, this method is the most secure. Checking the patrons’ identification at the door saves time and guarantees shorter wait times for orders. Bars and clubs should use unique wristbands and cycle the colors so patrons cannot predict which wristband will be used. Using common wristbands that can be found at local party supply stores can lead to potential falsification. Plus, the use of these common wristbands misses an opportunity for branding and marketing. Wristbands with the company logo, website address or coupon code can draw customers back to the venue and spread awareness of the venue. Recently, event and venue wristbands have been worn as a fashion statement and for the patrons to show where they have been. This is a much better marketing device than a marker-scrawled X that everybody wishes would wash off easier.

Although there are issues with age verification, they can be controlled. The under 18-20 year old crowd has hit the late night scene and bars and clubs should welcome the new faces and the new business, while also taking proper safety and legal measures.