Congratulations -- you’re a college student! Now you can learn to prioritize your academics without the help of your parents, eat disgusting amounts of ramen and go to college parties! Wait, did I just say college party? As in, parties with underage drinking?! Believe it or not, 11 percent of the alcohol consumed in the United States is by people age 12 to 20 (NCADD). And underage drinking is not the only issue -- false identification is relatively common on university campuses. According to Pacific Standard, 18 percent of underage college students used fake IDs in 2002. Although an additional identity can seem appealing, there are multiple reasons to keep being 100 percent you -- even if you are under 21.
1. You will get caught.
There’s a reason why people are caught using a fake ID. It’s impossible to make an exact replica of an ID with an altered birthdate. Therefore, if a person uses a fake ID, they’re bound to be called out on it at least once. Alcohol laws are really cracking down in Chapel Hill, and the consequences of using a fake are higher than ever before.
"Don't get a fake ID. You will get caught, and die."
2. You won’t gain popularity.
Sure, everyone wants to be friends with the kid on their floor with a fake ID, but that’s not genuine friendship. If you’re trying to make new friends, go talk to the shy girl in your ECON 101 class or grab a bite to eat with a suitemate. There are thousands of other students in college looking to meet new people.
3. They're expensive and typically not good quality.
Why spend money on something that probably won’t work?
Fake IDs vary in cost, but a decent one costs at least $80-$200. As a broke college student myself, I’d much rather spend that money on food or textbooks.
4. You're almost there.
You’re in college, so you’re at least 18 years old. Just wait three more years! You won’t have to worry about committing a crime, and you won’t have to go through all the trouble of finding an ID. Plus, if you think about it, three years is basically nothing -- only 1,095 days.
They say the longer you wait for something, the more you’ll appreciate it. Actually, I made that up -- but it sounds true.
5. You can always visit extended family in Wisconsin.
If you weren’t already aware, with parental permission you can drink in Wisconsin. In fact, there are eight exceptions to underage drinking in the United States. There are 45 States that permit underage alcohol consumption to some extent. As long as you abide by each state's exceptions, you can still enjoy the occasional beer.
