Adelaide hospitality venues are reporting a rise in the use of sophisticated fake digital driver’s licences by underage teenagers attempting to gain entry into bars and nightclubs. According to Will Stewart, a bar manager at Wax Bar on Rundle Street, the deployment of these counterfeit IDs has become increasingly difficult to detect.

Stewart explained that teens are utilizing apps to create fake licences that closely mimic official state-issued digital IDs such as those available through the mySAGOV platform. These counterfeit credentials feature the user’s real name, address, and photograph, with only the date of birth altered to reflect the minimum legal drinking age of 18 years or older. Because the falsified licences appear virtually identical to genuine digital IDs, security personnel find it challenging to identify fraudulent documents during entry checks.

“The only thing they have to change is to make their ages older. Everything about the app looks and seems completely legit,” Stewart remarked, adding that the increasing availability of new apps and paid services facilitates the creation of such IDs. Venue security teams are often forced to conduct thorough searches and detailed questioning in attempts to verify the authenticity of patrons’ identification.

This trend is not isolated to South Australia. Similar issues have been reported in Victoria, where fake digital licences imitate the official myVicRoads app’s interactive features, including QR codes and animated holograms that are designed to enhance security. These counterfeit versions prompt users to enter a PIN code and access their ID in a manner closely resembling the genuine app, making detection even more difficult.

South Australia Police acknowledged the problem and confirmed awareness of multiple methods minors use to try to enter licensed venues using fraudulent identification, including digital documents. Police stated they are actively collaborating with licensed venues and staff to prevent the use of fake IDs. Under the Liquor Licensing Act, minors found in certain licensed premises can be removed and issued with an expiation notice. More serious criminal offenses related to the use of fraudulent documents can result in imprisonment under the Criminal Law Consolidation Act.

Hospitality operators warn that the widespread use of these fake IDs poses a growing challenge to venue security and compliance with liquor laws, potentially impacting the safety and integrity of Adelaide’s nightlife. The issue was highlighted during an investigation into the city’s party precinct, where the difficulties of managing underage entry amid evolving digital forgery techniques have become apparent.