Junior English major
On the occasional Friday night, friends have invited me to go to the bars of College Park. And as I’m not 21, but rather still a teenager, I have to decline because I don’t have a fake ID like they do. Then these people realize how uncool I am and basically stop being my friends altogether. Because I missed out on one night at the bars, I then miss out on the entire relationship, all because I don’t have a fake ID.
Whenever I tell people I don’t have a fake ID, they look like at me with a mixture of disgust and mild sympathy. Their drawn out ‘oh’ makes me feel terrible and kind of ashamed, like I’m not doing my duty as a college student. It seems that not having a fake ID is on the same level as being a Duke fan or a communist.
But why? Why should I feel embarrassed about not having an illegal form of identification? I don’t think I should feel guilty for actually following the rules. If anything, I should feel kind of proud for not lowering myself to identity fraud just to get into one of the bars or liquor stores in College Park.
Quite a few people have approached me telling me get fake a ID from various sketchy websites, but blowing between $70 and $150 on something that’s not entirely foolproof — or legal — isn’t worth it to me.
I know the bouncers of this city’s illustrious bars aren’t the most strict people, letting in almost anyone, but the ramifications of getting caught with a fake ID don’t seem worth a night filled with classic college debauchery.
Really, who wants to get arrested for holding a piece of plastic (if you have a nice enough ID that’s made of plastic) that says you’re 21 and from Delaware? I’ll pass and wait until I’m of age to go through the doors of Terrapin’s Turf legally.
Return to the Opinion section’s discussion of drugs and alcohol on the campus.
