Community Corner
Oak Bluffs Bar Calls Cops on Fake IDs
A popular Martha's Vineyard waterfront bar has declared war on bogus proofs of age.
Underage drinking happens everywhere, though it's illegal everywhere in the United States.
And on Martha's Vineyard in summertime, it seems as if people from everywhere are coming here to do it: Just take a look at the cavalcade of seized fake I.D.s from around the country, on display over the checkout counter at Our Market in Oak Bluffs.
Not everyone's so lucky as to have their fake I.D. confiscated at the counter: Case files at the Edgartown Superior Courthouse show that many young people were apprehended here for underage drinking last summer, some of whom were just finishing their court-ordered diversion programs this February and March.
Find out what's happening in Martha's Vineyardwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
One popular summer bar in Oak Bluffs recently made its position on the matter clear with multiple posts on Facebook:
"We just had an underaged girl that tried to get a drink from us with a fake id," posted Sand Bar Martha's Vineyard on May 29.
Find out what's happening in Martha's Vineyardwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"How did we respond? We called the police, who were here in less than 60 seconds. We will call the police anytime someone tries to do this from now on. We won't be nice guys about it. Tell your friends."
Two days later, Sand Bar repeated its plea:
"We have had the Oak Bluffs Police at Sand Bar several times in the last week to deal with underage kids trying to drink with false id's. Thanks OBPD for getting here so fast when we call you! Please spread the word."
Underage would-be drinkers shouldn't expect a nod and a wink elsewhere on the Vineyard: These are the customers nobody wants.
As one Edgartown liquor-store owner grimly said, "They're trying to put me out of business."
So while the Martha's Vineyard welcome mat is out for just about everyone this summer, showing a fake I.D. is the quickest way to have that red carpet pulled right out from underfoot.
For more Martha's Vineyard summer news, please see our Summer section.
Stay Patched in! Follow Martha's Vineyard Patch on Twitter | Like Martha's Vineyard Patch on Facebook | Sign up for the daily email with links to the latest news | Got something to say? Post on Patch and share your news and opinions.