NK Gets New Tech To Sniff Out Fake Ids

North Kingstown liquor stores just got a new gizmo in identifying fake/invalid IDs. Four scanners have been issued to North Kingstown’s liquor stores – , , and – to help nix the guesswork out of reading IDs.

How does it work? Liquor store employees simply insert any state-issued identification into the scanner. Any ID that is expired, invalid, fake or if the person holding the ID isn’t of age, the scanner will reject the card with a red-colored warning. If your card is valid, congratulations: you’ll be drinking Pinot Grigio, not Pepsi, with your fettuccine alfredo.

“The scanner’s great because the license reproductions are getting so good that it can really be difficult to guess if it’s real or fake,” said Mike Sherman, co-owner of Wickford Package Store.

The scanners, costing $900 each, were funded through a grant secured by the Town of North Kingstown and Working Together For Wellness – North Kingstown’s substance abuse task force. The four liquor stores introduced the scanners last week, just in time for prom season and before tourist season.

“It’s a great idea because it tells you right away if it’s a good ID or not,” said Suzanne Cardente, owner of Quaker Lane Liquor Store. “The scanner turns red or green and we can use it for both tobacco and alcohol.”

 “We’ve waited awhile for something like this, but it’s worth the wait,” said Cardente.

Want to see how the IDs work? Check out this video here from Channel 10.