California Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) Alcohol Practice Exam

Which is an indicator of a false ID?

1. Bright colors

2. Alterations of the birthdate

3. Having a hologram

4. Being issued recently

The correct answer is: Alterations of the birthdate

Alterations of the birthdate serve as a significant indicator of a false ID. When individuals attempt to use a fake identification, one of the common modifications is changing the birthdate to meet age requirements for purchasing alcohol or accessing age-restricted venues. These alterations can be easily spotted during the verification process, as they may appear unnatural or inconsistent with the rest of the ID's details. In contrast, bright colors can be a feature of some genuine IDs and may not directly indicate falsification. A hologram, typically included in many authentic IDs, is a security feature designed to prevent counterfeiting; therefore, its presence is not a sign of a false ID. Additionally, being issued recently does not inherently suggest that an ID is false; legitimate IDs can be issued at any given time. Therefore, the most telling sign of a potentially fraudulent ID is the alteration of crucial information such as the birthdate.