Watch out minors; the police are watching you.

“We are [at the bars] during the week and weekends and are capable of showing up at anytime, anywhere,” said Sgt. Randy Kessel, public information officer for the Ames Police Department.

With classes back in session, the Alcohol Enforcement Team of the Ames Police Department is performing more spot checks at local bars in search of underage law breakers.

Kessel said minors who enter these establishments think they know what time police officers will arrive to perform bar checks, but they actually do not.

“Beware — stay out of the bars unless you are 21,” he said. “[Minors] think we have a set schedule and don’t show up until certain times, but we can do spot checks whenever necessary.”

Kessel said officers work normal eight-hour shifts, but they can flex their hours to accommodate different schedules.

“A shift, say at 6 p.m. or any prescribed time, can say, ‘Let’s go check some bars,'” he said. “We are not the only ones who do this. We work jointly with DPS and the Story County’s Sheriff’s Office.”

When minors are found at bar establishments, police officers issue them citations for being on the premises under the legal drinking age.

Kessel said some of these citations could be prevented if bar owners began identification checks earlier in the evening.

“Probably what happens early on Fridays is [the bars] may or may not have someone at the door checking IDs,” he said. “We are looking at and encouraging [bar owners] to start doing ID checks earlier since the students are back.”

Kessel said even though he encourages bar owners to do identification checks earlier, enforcing it is their responsibility.

“Underage admittance and people coming early is something they are going to see with classes being back in session,” he said. “It’s up to them to enforce it. We are there to enforce the agreement on their liquor licenses.”

James Courtney, kitchen manager at Cy’s Roost, 121 Welch Ave., said they always are checking IDs of customers, but the bar only has a doorman at certain times.

“We have a doorman on Friday at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., and if it is busy enough at [Friday After Class], we will have a doorperson at 4 p.m.,” said Courtney, senior in hotel restaurant management. “Saturday, we have a doorperson at 8 or 9 p.m.”

He said if a doorman is not present, then the bartender and manager check IDs.

All fake IDs are confiscated, and the people using them are asked to leave the establishment.

“We can’t have someone at the door 24-7, but I wish we could,” he said.

Mike Adams, manager of Welch Ave. Station, 207 Welch Ave., said he has doormen working as early as 4 p.m. on Friday, and on Saturday it depends whether there is a home football game.

“We have a doorman one hour before the game starts,” he said. “The bartender IDs anyone who he doesn’t know is 21.”

Adams said all fake IDs are confiscated at his establishment as well.

“We started using a scanner that scans the black line on the back of driver’s licenses,” he said. “It works well. All we have to do is make sure the picture matches the person.”

Adams said his establishment is the first in Ames to use the scanner.

Although most officers who perform spot checks are in uniforms, Kessel said some officers may make checks in plain clothes.

“We have done undercover stings to make sure the laws of the land are being abided by,” he said.

In addition to enforcement, Kessel said police officers also educate bar owners and employees on spotting a fake driver’s license coming through the door.

“We do this not only with bar owners, but with merchants who sell alcohol at grocery stores. We give them the same program on how to spot a fake ID,” he said.

Both Cy’s Roost and Welch Ave. Station employees have attended the Police Department’s alcohol awareness programs.

Even with all of the programs and enforcement, Kessel said trying to enter bars while being underage will continue to be a common college activity.

“I think students try at least once or twice in their college careers,” he said. “We have to send the signal to the student body that bars are off-limits to those underage.”