We recently came across an article in the Independent about the ridiculous excuses bouncers hear from people trying to get into bars without proper ID.
It was surprisingly relatable.
If you’ve ever worked the door at a bar or nightclub, you’ve heard it all:
“I left my ID at home, but trust me, I’m 21.”
“I’ve dyed my hair since that picture!”
For years, bouncers have been the first line of defense against fake IDs.
They sniff out the bogus excuses, eye contact avoidance, and botched Photoshop jobs.
But, now, with fake ID technology getting more sophisticated and states increasing their penalties for serving underage customers, bars and nightclubs need more than a set of eyes and gut feelings to protect their establishments.
That’s where bar ID scanners and nightclub ID scanners can help.
In the U.S., selling and serving alcohol to a minor can result in hefty fines and suspensions. In the worst cases, businesses can lose their liquor licenses entirely.
Even experienced bouncers can make mistakes in high-pressure environments. That’s why ID scanners are a powerful tool for bars and nightclubs to check for age, validity, and tampering in seconds.
With ID scanners eliminate excuses, distractions, and the risk of missing fakes.
ID scanners detect fake IDs by analyzing barcodes, magnetic stripes, and security features.
They create an electronic log of every ID scanned, which proves you did your job if you’re audited.
Our scanners include customizable watchlists to flag banned patrons and track occupancy in real-time to stay compliant with fire codes.
They also catch anti-passback attempts, so if someone tries to pass their ID to a friend waiting outside,the scanner flags the duplicate scan in real-time.
Plus, with our IDVisor Sync, you can sync data from all of your ID scanners in one advanced cloud networking solution.
More states are rolling out digital driver’s licenses.
And, as of 2025, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Iowa, and other states have implemented mobile ID programs, with more states adding them every year.
Most quality scanners can already handle them with software updates. They can also detect the difference between a legitimate digital ID and a screenshot or photo of it.
Avant Gardner is known as the largest standing room entertainment complex in North America.
They require significant and sophisticated ID scanning technology to ensure people trying to enter are verified and permitted on the premises.
With 22 scanners deployed, Avant Gardner has experienced faster lines and increased safety and security after implementing TokenWorks scanners.
Their multi-tiered security approach starts with handheld scanners. Guests who appear to be under 25 years old are directed to a station where IDs are scanned using an IDentiFake fake ID detection scanner.
You can read more about their experience with our products here.
Q. “Will an ID scanner slow down my line?”
ID scanners verify authenticity in mere seconds, faster than visual inspection alone.
Your staff can focus on customer service rather than studying security features.
Q. “Is it difficult to use?”
Your staff can be trained on our ID scanners in minutes with minimal technical knowledge.
Q. “What about customer privacy?”
You control what data is stored, and many systems only retain age verification logs rather than complete personal information.
When it comes to fake IDs, even the best-trained staff can’t compete with the speed and accuracy of an ID scanner.
Excuses don’t hold up against technology, and your liquor license is too valuable to risk.
Schedule a call to learn more
