With the number of underage alcohol violations in bars under scrutiny by city officials, some bar owners have taken extra steps to make sure minors don’t get inside their front doors. The Ames City Council approved a set of criteria needed to be met by the liquor establishments before their liquor licenses would be reviewed on Sept. 5. The criteria were developed after several establishments exceeded a 12-violation rule set up by City Attorney John Klaus this summer. Police officers will now look for the criteria as opposed to a set number of violations. Mike Adams, manager of Welch Avenue Station, 207 Welch Ave., said his establishment is trying to keep the number of minor violations down with well-trained doormen who know how to look for fake or fraudulent IDs. Starting in October, doormen will be sent to a training session to help spot fake IDs, run by the Ames Police Department. Doormen at Welch Avenue Station also will be given an incentive bonus of $5 for every ID they confiscate. Once an ID has been confiscated, it is turned in to the Ames Police Department. Another Campustown bar is taking a different approach at preventing underage violations. Andy White, owner of Paddy’s and Sips, 124 Welch Ave., said the bars have a surveillance camera set up at the entrance that is checked on a daily basis. “We make sure people are carding everyone and the people being allowed in are of age,” he said. White said Paddy’s and Sips have an incentive program for doormen. “Only a certain amount of doormen who have been trained by the Ames Police Department are allowed to work the front door, and they do get paid more,” he said. The doormen also get a bonus if end-of-the-month reports show zero violations, White said. Adams said he doesn’t feel Welch Avenue Station needs to have surveillance cameras right now since their number of violations are low. “If we start having a problem, it is something to be considered. As for right now, we’re not having a big problem,” he said. Last year, Welch Avenue Station purchased an electronic ID scanner that reads the bar codes on the back of driver’s licenses from 13 states, including Iowa. When an ID is slid through the scanner, it shows the person’s birth date and the license’s expiration date. Boheme Bistro, 2900 West St., was the first bar to be reprimanded under the 12-violation system. It was given a six-month liquor license and was recently given its one-year license back. Kim Heiderscheidt, manager of the bar, said employees are cracking down on minors. She said Boheme lets anyone over the age of 17 on the premises, but a doorman still checks IDs to prevent minors from drinking. An “M” is written on the left hand of all minors, and workers walk around to make sure no one is drinking. “If they so much as touch alcohol they’re kicked out,” Heiderscheidt said. She said employees are not hesitant to kick out minors who are breaking the law because “our jobs are on the line,” she said. Boheme Bistro also will confiscate any fake or fraudulent ID shown at the door.