Center City Bar Raises Entry Age to 25 Due to Fake ID Surge

Dirty Frank's co-owner says sophisticated IDs, including one with a Ben Franklin photo, led to the temporary policy change.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Dirty Frank's, a longtime bar in Philadelphia's Center City, has temporarily raised its entry age to 25 and older after an apparent surge in college-age patrons using increasingly sophisticated fake IDs. The co-owner said the tipping point came when a 24-year-old tried to enter with a fake Pennsylvania ID featuring a photo of Benjamin Franklin.

Why it matters

The case highlights the growing problem of fake IDs, especially among younger crowds, and the challenges bars face in verifying identification and maintaining a safe environment for patrons. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of current ID scanning technology and the need for more advanced security measures.

The details

Dirty Frank's co-owner Jody Sweitzer said the bar had seen an influx of younger crowds arriving in large groups, which she attributed to social media and tools like ChatGPT. The fake IDs were still scanning as valid and passing security measures, but other behavioral concerns, such as vaping inside, bringing their own drinks, and instances of disrespectful conduct, raised alarms. The Ben Franklin incident, where a 24-year-old tried to enter with a fake ID featuring the Founding Father's photo, was the tipping point for Sweitzer, who decided the bar had to act to preserve its license and atmosphere.

  • Two weeks ago, Dirty Frank's implemented a temporary rule requiring patrons to be at least 25 to enter.

The players

Jody Sweitzer

The co-owner of Dirty Frank's bar in Philadelphia's Center City.

Jean Merritt

A regular customer of Dirty Frank's bar who noticed changes in the bar's atmosphere due to the influx of younger, unruly patrons.

Al Koren

A patron of Dirty Frank's bar who understands the decision to raise the entry age, even if it temporarily excludes people between 21 and 24.

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What they’re saying

“Thank you to whoever brought this in. We confiscated it, obviously, and that's the day I'm like, 'We're done,'”

— Jody Sweitzer, Co-owner of Dirty Frank's bar (6abc.com)

“They don't know how to drink. They drink way too much. They throw up on the floor, they yell, they scream”

— Jean Merritt, Regular customer of Dirty Frank's bar (6abc.com)

“I kinda feel sorry for them, but if you can't behave, you gotta go. Of course I'd be angry if I was 21-24 and couldn't get in here, but there are other places to go to”

— Al Koren, Patron of Dirty Frank's bar (6abc.com)

What’s next

Sweitzer said she is now looking for more advanced equipment capable of detecting fraudulent IDs. She said the age rule will remain in place until better technology is secured, though she does not yet know when the bar might return to a 21-and-over policy.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing problem of fake IDs, especially among younger crowds, and the challenges bars face in verifying identification and maintaining a safe environment for patrons. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of current ID scanning technology and the need for more advanced security measures to combat this issue.