Blacksburg establishments serving alcohol may benefit from being located in a college town, but still must keep their guard up to avoid alcohol violations.
From July 2007 to June 2008, eight Blacksburg facilities faced penalties for selling alcoholic beverages to underage buyers.
Champs Sports Bar and Bogen's, both located on Main Street, faced 25-day suspensions and $2,000 fines during 2008.
The Inn at Virginia Tech also received an underage buyer violation.
College towns across Virginia displayed similar numbers over the time period.
Charlottesville also had an eight establishments cited, while Harrisonburg had five violators.
The Lantern received an underage buyer violation in December of 2008. Manager Jesse Watts attributed its mistake to a careless bartender. He said fake IDs create problems in college towns, but caution keeps an establishment in the clear.
"If you're suspicious, the safe way to go is just say no," Watts said. "You can ask for another form of ID."
Watts said most people attempting to use a fake ID do not have a backup.
Oge-Chi Restaurant and Lounge has multiple violations over the past two years. It is scheduled for an appeals hearing in Richmond on March 24.
Virginia ABC spokesman Philip Bogenberger said restaurants must keep an eye out for suspicious IDs.
"If they have reason to believe it is a false ID, that is a problem they need to look at," Bogenberger said. "If someone had tampered with an ID to the point where the restaurant couldn't figure out, there would probably be some leeway."
A first offense can cost an establishment more than $2,000 in fines and a possible suspension of its alcohol license. Bogenberger said penalties are handled on a case-by-case basis.
Watts said the financial benefit of doing business in a college town is worth the possibility of alcohol violations.
"It balances out," Watts said. "In a college town, you get more business, but most people are under 21, so it creates a bigger problem. It is just a threat that you have to monitor."
The ABC Web site says licensees are immune from ABC penalties if they notify an agent when they suspect an underage person has used or attempted to use a false ID in their establishment. The Web site does not specify a time frame in which the licensee must establish contact with the agent.
Virginia's ABC Web site also offers a guide to detecting fake IDs for alcoholic beverage licensees.
Agents monitor restaurants and convenience stores in several ways, including an underage buyer program. Other methods include personal observations, and fielding complaints from concerned citizens.