In Alaska, a fake ID can cost you your driver’s license before you ever see a judge. If an officer believes you used a license as false identification, the revocation starts on the spot. Seven days later, you may not be allowed to drive anywhere in the state.
This guide explains what the Alaska Statutes say about fake IDs, underage drinking and the more serious charges that can follow. It is written for teens, parents and anyone who checks ID at work.
Please note. IDS FAKE does not sell, make or recommend fake IDs, and nothing on this page explains how to get or use one. If you have been cited or charged, speak to an Alaska criminal defense lawyer.
Key Takeaways
- A person under 21 may not present false proof of age, or proof that is not their own, to get alcohol on licensed premises (AS 04.16.060(d)).
- Using a driver’s license as false ID leads to a 60-day revocation, or 12 months for a repeat, with no conviction needed (AS 28.15.187).
- Underage buying, drinking or possessing alcohol is a non-criminal violation with a $500 fine (AS 04.16.050; AS 04.16.060).
- Forging, or knowingly possessing, a forged instrument with intent to defraud is a crime, and some versions are felonies (AS 11.46.505; AS 11.46.510).
The Drinking Age in Alaska
You become an adult at 18 in Alaska, but only “except as otherwise provided by statute” (AS 25.20.010). The alcohol code is one of those exceptions. Under AS 04.16.050, a person under 21 “may not knowingly consume, possess, or control alcoholic beverages.”
Off licensed premises, a parent may give alcohol to their own child, and a person may give it to their legal spouse (AS 04.16.051(b)). The age of 21 is also backed by federal highway funding rules (23 U.S.C. § 158).
The Main Offenses: False Proof of Age and Underage Purchase
Alaska rewrote its alcohol code (Title 4) in 2022. Several underage offenses are now non-criminal “violations,” but they still carry real penalties.
Presenting false proof of age
Section 04.16.060(d) says a person under 21 “may not enter licensed premises where alcoholic beverages are sold” and present a fraudulent or false birth certificate or other written evidence of age, or evidence that is not their own, to get alcohol served. A card made from scratch, an altered card and a borrowed card are all covered.
Underage purchase
A person under 21 may not buy alcohol or ask someone else to buy it (AS 04.16.060(a)). This is “purchase by a person under 21 years of age,” a violation with a $500 fine (AS 04.16.060(g), (i)).
Minor consuming or in possession
Knowingly drinking, possessing or controlling alcohol under 21 is also a $500 violation (AS 04.16.050). The court may cut the fine to $50, or $250 for repeat offenders, if you complete an alcohol safety action program or a community diversion panel within six months. Entering a bar without a legal exception is a separate $500 violation (AS 04.16.049).
Penalties at a Glance
| Conduct | Alaska law | Level | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 21 drinking or possessing alcohol | AS 04.16.050 | Violation | $500 fine |
| Under 21 buying alcohol | AS 04.16.060(a), (i) | Violation | $500 fine |
| Using a driver’s license as false ID for alcohol | AS 04.16.060(d); AS 28.15.187 | Administrative revocation | 60 days (first), 12 months (repeat) |
| Displaying a fictitious, altered or borrowed license, or lending yours | AS 28.15.281; AS 28.90.010 | Misdemeanor | Up to 90 days jail, $500 fine |
| False identity information to police | AS 11.56.800 | Class A misdemeanor | Up to 1 year jail, $25,000 fine |
| Forgery in the third degree | AS 11.46.510 | Class A misdemeanor | Up to 1 year jail, $25,000 fine |
| Forgery in the second degree (public record) | AS 11.46.505 | Class C felony | Up to 5 years prison, $50,000 fine |
| Criminal impersonation in the first degree | AS 11.46.565 | Class B felony | Up to 10 years prison, $100,000 fine |
Sentence and fine ranges come from AS 12.55.035, AS 12.55.125 and AS 12.55.135. First felony offenders usually fall in lower presumptive ranges.
Losing Your Driver’s License
This is the rule that surprises most families. Under AS 28.15.187, if an officer has probable cause, based on personal observation, that you used a driver’s license as false identification, the officer takes your license and hands you a notice. That notice works as a temporary license for seven days. After that, the revocation begins unless you request an administrative review (AS 28.15.189).
The revocation lasts 60 days for a first time and 12 months after that. It runs back to back with any other revocation, and no conviction is required. According to the Alaska DMV, it applies even if you have no license yet, and under-18 drivers need a parent or guardian to sign for reinstatement.
When a Fake ID Becomes a Felony
Forgery in the third degree covers anyone who, with intent to defraud, falsely makes or alters a written instrument, or knowingly possesses or uses a forged one (AS 11.46.510). Alaska defines “written instrument” to include items that serve as evidence of identification (AS 11.46.580). This is a class A misdemeanor.
The charge rises to a class C felony when the instrument is, or purports to be, a public record (AS 11.46.505). Whether a fake license fits that wording is for the prosecutor and the court to decide, but it is a real risk. Possessing forgery equipment with intent to use it is also a class C felony (AS 11.46.520).
Someone who makes or sells cards is in a far worse position than a teen with one card. Federally, producing or transferring a false ID document can bring up to 15 years in prison (18 U.S.C. § 1028).
Borrowed IDs and False Names
Using an older sibling’s real license is not a safe alternative. Displaying a license issued to someone else is unlawful, and so is lending your own (AS 28.15.281(a)(2), (a)(4)). Both are misdemeanors under AS 28.90.010.
The lender has other problems too. Misrepresenting someone’s age to get them alcohol is “delivery to a person under 21 years of age,” a $500 violation (AS 04.16.060(b), (j)). A person 18 or older who breaks AS 04.16.060 can also be sued by the business for a $1,500 civil penalty plus attorney fees (AS 04.16.065).
If you are stopped, do not give a false name. Giving a peace officer false information about your identity is a class A misdemeanor (AS 11.56.800). Pretending to be someone else to gain a benefit can be criminal impersonation in the second degree (AS 11.46.570). Using another person’s ID without permission to obtain property or a false ID, while recklessly damaging their finances, is a class B felony (AS 11.46.565).
Juvenile Court and Court Records
Minor consuming cases skip the juvenile system. Even a 16 year old charged under AS 04.16.050 goes to district court, and a parent must attend (AS 47.12.030(b)). Other offenses, such as forgery, generally go to juvenile court for those under 18.
When underage purchase, presence or consuming charges are filed on their own, the court system may not publish them on a public website (AS 04.21.078). That protection does not cover criminal charges, and it does not stop the license revocation.
Consequences Beyond Court
School and college
Colleges have their own conduct codes. A fake ID incident can mean discipline or loss of campus housing, whatever happens in court.
Background checks
Forgery and impersonation convictions can appear in checks for jobs, the military, nursing and teaching. Dishonesty offenses are hard to explain.
Real costs
Fines, program fees, a lawyer and reinstatement costs add up quickly. In rural Alaska, losing the ability to drive can also mean losing a job.
A Note for Alaska Businesses
When staff doubt that a customer is 21, they must ask for proof, such as a valid photo license or ID card. If the proof is missing or questioned, the customer must sign a board-approved statement of age (AS 04.21.050). Staff who rely in good faith on that statement or on a valid ID have a defense to underage furnishing charges. Licensees are strictly liable for an employee’s sale to a minor, with a $250 administrative penalty (AS 04.16.052). We found no statute giving licensees a specific power to confiscate fake IDs, so call police if you suspect one. See our guide on how to spot a fake ID.
If You Are Thinking About It
Be honest about the trade. On one side is a drink before your 21st birthday. On the other is a $500 fine, a revocation that starts within a week and, at worst, a felony. Online sellers carry none of that risk, and they keep your personal details. If you are already in trouble, do not lie to police, and talk to a parent or a lawyer. For free, confidential help with alcohol, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the penalty for using a fake ID in Alaska?
The most certain penalty is a 60-day license revocation, or 12 months for a repeat, imposed without a conviction (AS 28.15.187). You may also face a $500 underage purchase violation and, depending on the facts, misdemeanor charges (AS 28.15.281).
Can a fake ID be a felony in Alaska?
It can. Forgery in the second degree, which covers forged public records, is a class C felony with up to five years in prison (AS 11.46.505; AS 12.55.125). Whether it is charged depends on the facts and the prosecutor.
I am 18 and legally an adult. Can I drink?
No. Adulthood starts at 18 (AS 25.20.010), but AS 04.16.050 bars anyone under 21 from consuming or possessing alcohol.
Is using my brother’s or a friend’s real ID still illegal?
Yes. Displaying someone else’s license and lending your own are both unlawful (AS 28.15.281). The alcohol law also covers proof of age that is not your own (AS 04.16.060(d)).
Does a scannable fake ID change anything?
No. None of these laws depends on whether a card scans. A scannable fake is still false identification under AS 04.16.060(d).
References
- AS 04.16.049, 04.16.050 (2025). Persons under 21 on licensed premises; possession or consumption. law.justia.com
- AS 04.16.051, 04.16.052 (2025). Furnishing alcoholic beverages to persons under 21. law.justia.com
- AS 04.16.060 (2025). Purchase by or delivery to persons under the age of 21. law.justia.com
- AS 04.16.065 (2025). Civil penalty for violations of AS 04.16.060. law.justia.com
- AS 04.21.050, 04.21.078 (2025). Proof of age; court records of persons under 21. law.justia.com
- AS 11.46.505 to 11.46.580 (2025). Forgery and related offenses. law.justia.com
- AS 11.56.800 (2025). False information or report. law.justia.com
- AS 12.55.035, 12.55.125, 12.55.135 (2025). Fines and sentences. law.justia.com
- AS 25.20.010 (2025). Age of majority. law.justia.com
- AS 28.15.187, 28.15.189 (2025). Administrative revocation for use of false identification. law.justia.com
- AS 28.15.281, 28.90.010 (2025). Unlawful use of license; penalty. law.justia.com
- AS 47.12.030 (2025). Provisions inapplicable. law.justia.com
- Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles. (n.d.). Fraudulent use law (fake ID). dmv.alaska.gov
- Fraud and related activity in connection with identification documents, 18 U.S.C. § 1028. law.cornell.edu
- National minimum drinking age, 23 U.S.C. § 158. law.cornell.edu
This guide is for education only. It is not legal advice. Alaska law changes, so check the official Alaska Statutes or speak to a qualified Alaska attorney about any specific situation. IDS FAKE does not sell or promote fake IDs. Read our full legal disclaimer.
For the bigger picture, read our fake ID consequences guide, or learn how to spot a fake ID.