Corey Hukill, 20, feels left out when his slightly older friends head out to the bar, enticing him to spend $50 to $100 on a fake ID if the opportunity arises.

“I’m on a college campus and everything is oriented around drinking,” the sophomore in music education said. “Drinking a case of beer at home isn’t fun, you want to socialize, meet girls.”

Many college students resort to fake IDs in order to party with their older pals or purchase alcohol for underage parties.

Jason Jamhor, a clerk at Soussy Mart on North Fourth Avenue, said they confiscate an invalid ID almost every day, displaying a stack of around 100 cards.

Most of the confiscated IDs are legitimate but are not the person attempting to use the card, he said.

Graduate student Rachel Bowen said girls in her sorority, at Ohio University, received IDs from the older members.

“They would pay the person to get a new ID and keep the old one,” she said.

The Internet offers students many options to attain fake IDs. Information about creating fake IDs and altering IDs is widely available on the Internet, including how-to videos on YouTube and sites, such as 21overnight.com, which sell “novelty” IDs, making it clear they are real enough to use.

Not all students find it easy to obtain a fake ID. James Strausbaugh, a junior in biology, said he knew people who had fakes and sometimes thought of getting one himself. Most of the time the IDs were quickly confiscated and he was not willing to pay for one of poor quality.

“I did try a Web site,” he said. “But it must have been shut down; I never heard back from them.”

Penalties for being caught using a fake ID or that of another person range. Soussy Mart confiscates IDs and calls the police if the person does not leave.

At Scarlet and Gray bar, the ID is confiscated and destroyed and the person using it is thrown out, said bartender Steve Hannigan, a senior in history.

Andy’s Carryout, north of campus on High Street, only refuses to sell the alcohol, a policy common for many businesses seeking to avoid conflicts.

“Usually there’s no hassle, they know their ID is fake,” said clerk Kris James. “They’re just glad I didn’t take it or call the cops.”

Getting caught by the police can result in multiple charges.

“Number one, if they’re under 21, they’re a minor in possession of alcohol,” Sgt. Rich Weiner, spokesman for Columbus Division of Police said. “Add to that using a fake ID and you’re talking two charges there.”

According to Ohio law, first degree misdemeanors could result in up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.

Hukill said if he gets a fake ID he would not be afraid to use it.

“Most of the time (if you are caught) they just take it away,” he said. “I’d just lose my money.”

Katie Foster, a server at Buffalo Wild Wings, said she sees about three fake IDs a week. BW3’s alcohol policy does not accept any ID that is damaged, bent, scratched, or chipped, giving her an easy way to deal with the situation.

“I usually just find something wrong with the ID and don’t accept it for that reason,” she said. “Most of the time I don’t say I think it’s fake.”

Regardless of response to those with fakes, businesses try to catch them to avoid legal trouble.

Bartenders, carryout clerks and other staff can be charged with crimes – if they sell to people underage – resulting in fines and/or possible jail time, said Julie Hinds, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Public Health.

The ODPH investigates complaints of sales to underage customers and also helps Columbus Police with undercover liquor agents for certain times, such as during the football season, she said.

Agents follow up on complaints by visiting the establishment undercover, often on multiple occasions looking for violations of the liquor license such as selling underage, selling to persons intoxicated, or a number of other violations, Hinds said.

Adam Konvalinka can be reached at [email protected].