In the last year Big Red Liquors provided its liquid services to more than 2 million customers, said Wade Shanower, president of Big Red Liquors.\nUnfortunately, Shanower said, people with Virginia licenses can no longer be among the liquor store’s satisfied customers.\n“Right now we will not accept a Virginia license as a primary form of identification for anyone who appears to be under the age of 27,” Shanower said.\nThe reason, Shanower said, is because the market is flooded with extremely well-made forgeries.\nThe forgeries are so accurate, in fact, that on more than one occasion, Indiana State Excise officers did not hold Big Red employees accountable for not being able to find the fake.\nBut it’s the times they did hold the business accountable that matter, \nShanower said.\nDuring last year’s Little 500 week, not one of Big Red’s 14 stores was fined for selling to a minor. That’s a point of pride, Shanower said.\nBut twice this year, the company has shelled out as much as $500 in fines because of fake Virginia IDs. Shanower said it’s not worth the risk.\n“We’re kind of between a rock and a hard place,” he said. “We’re not in the business of turning down customers. ... We’ve got a responsibility to the community.”\nOptions\nWhen 21-year-old senior Dan Garfinkel was refused entrance to the Big Red at 418 N. College Ave. with his Virginia license, it was not the first time.\nOnce before, he used his Virginia state license, his car’s license plate and his valid insurance card to get permission to enter the liquor store.\nBut that didn’t make him feel any better about it, he said.\n“(The person checking IDs) has kind of an ‘F-you, we don’t care’ mentality,” Garfinkel said. “I wouldn’t care, but they have a better selection than anywhere else.”\nGarfinkel called Big Red’s corporate office the next day and spoke with Shanower. He was told his options were to use his passport or to obtain an Indiana state identification card.\nDennis Rosebrough, communications director for the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, said a student with a license in another state cannot obtain either a state ID or a license in Indiana.\n“The basic rule is that you cannot have an ID-driver’s license or an ID card from two states,” Rosebrough said. “Because you are only a legal resident from one location. It’s the law.”\nShanower emphasizes this is not a permanent policy, but while it is in effect, Virginian customers should bring a passport.
ID checking policies\nIt’s not for Big Red’s lack of trying that its ID-checkers can’t tell a fake.\nShanower said all employees attend monthly sessions with other expert employees to identify fake licenses. Twice yearly, an Alcohol and Tobacco Commission officer comes in to present the newest advances in forgeries.\nEmployees use reference guides for all state IDs, black lights and even student directories with the home address of every student at IU.\n“An employee in their first year is going to get eight or nine hours in direct ID training,” Shanower said.\n \nDiscrimination?\nWhen Garfinkel couldn’t go into the store he’d frequented for the last year, he wondered if this constituted discrimination, he said.\nHowever, Big Red refuses service to many people every night because they’re drunk, do not have a valid ID or for other reasons, Shanower said.\n“I’ve talked to a couple of students who have called and given them, not convenient, but reasonable options,” Shanower said. “It’s not at all discriminatory. It’s just temporary.”
