Underage students in search of a stiff drink may be facing stiffer opposition at some local bars.

The number of underage students getting stopped with fake IDs is increasing, said Bob Wallace, assistant manager of Cafe 210 West, 210 W. College Ave.

"Bars are just paying more attention to IDs," Wallace said.

The number of underage students stopped at the bars has declined from 25 to 30 during the first two weeks of the semester and since leveled out to about one a week, Wallace said.

"Bars who get packed all the time, they're really up on noticing fake IDs," Wallace said.

And that extra attention may be scaring some students away.

One 18-year-old sophomore, who asked that her name not be used, said she has used her fake ID here only once.

"It's really a bad idea to use it up here," she said. "Around here they want you to back it up."

Andrea Petruzzello (junior-animal bioscience) agreed local bars are tough to get into.

"You have to have real ID," Petruzzello said.

Fines for establishments found guilty of serving liquor to minors have risen in the past several years from $200 or $300 to a mandatory $1,000 for a first offense, as well as a possible liquor license suspension, said Ed Zupich, supervisor of the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement in Altoona.

Individuals found guilty of furnishing minors with alcohol can also be arrested and face a mandatory $1,500 fine, he added.

State College Bureau of Police Services Lt. Carmine Prestia said financial penalties have made bars much more cautious.

"You're talking about a major economic kick if that happens," Prestia said.

Students caught using an altered driver's license to gain access to a bar may face a $100 fine and three points on their driver's record, Prestia said.

Even though the authorities are notified when a student is stopped, many people get away because bar bouncers have no legal ability to detain them, Wallace said.

"Most of them split," he added.

But not all bars are stopping more students.

Zeno's hasn't experienced an increase of students toting fake IDs, said Eric Stromer, a doorman at Zeno's, 100 W. College Ave.

"The reputation of this bar has gotten around," Stromer said. "It's really tough to get in."