Bar Raises Entry Age After Fake ID Featuring Ben Franklin
Philly Bar Raises Entry Age to 25 After Fake ID Featuring Ben Franklin
A longtime Philadelphia bar has temporarily raised its entry age to 25 and older after an apparent surge in increasingly sophisticated fake IDs.
Dirty Frank’s co-owner Jody Sweitzer said the Center City bar had been seeing waves of younger patrons, sometimes arriving in groups of 20 to 30 at a time. She believes social media may have contributed to the influx.
But the breaking point came when someone attempted to enter the bar using a fake Pennsylvania ID featuring Benjamin Franklin’s photo, listing his age as 24, and giving the Liberty Bell as his address.
Sweitzer said the ID was confiscated immediately.
“That’s the day I’m like, ‘We’re done,’” she said, explaining that two weeks ago the bar implemented a temporary 25-and-over policy.
According to Sweitzer, the fake IDs have been increasingly difficult to detect. She said the holograms appeared correct, the UV lights worked, and the IDs were scanning as valid. However, other behavior raised concerns, including vaping inside the bar, some patrons bringing their own drinks, and instances of disrespectful conduct.
Regular customers told reporters they had noticed a shift in the atmosphere. One patron described excessive drinking, yelling, and disruptive behavior.
Sweitzer said she is now testing more advanced equipment capable of better detecting fraudulent IDs. The bar plans to return to a 21-and-over policy once improved scanning technology is secured.
Until then, even a Founding Father won’t get past the door.
