Partying with fake IDs "is not a trivial offence"

(ADW) Although the minimum drinking age may be 16 in Luxembourg, in bars nightclubs and other establishments the age is actually of 18. Some clubs even restrict an entry age of 21.

However not every teenager wants to wait that long and for some of them, holding a fake ID is extremely tempting. This, say police, has become quite a common problem recently.

A recent police press release stated that in the past few months officers were frequently presented with false documents when they asked for identification. 

Therefore the aim of the communiqué was to point out to residents that the use of false IDs and counterfeiting actual official documents is not a trivial offence but, apart from incurring a fine, could lead to imprisonment of up to two years.

For minors, possibly more of a threat is that once caught using false IDs, all criminal proceedings must take place in the presence of their parents or guardians. They could even be presented before juvenile court where they could face a conviction.

On Friday evening Luxembourg police conducted ID inspections in several places around the capital. Although on this occasion no false documents were found, two 15-year-old teenagers were caught and their parents notified.