In a pandemic, no one knows you’re underage.
That’s what Gen Z has discovered as they’ve updated the fake ID for the COVID-19 era, hitting up liquor stores dressed as elderly grandmas wearing coronavirus face masks.
The “prank” has taken social media platform TikTok by storm, with videos of users bedecked as boozehound bubbies — seemingly victorious, bottles in hand — racking up millions of views.
That you get liquor before you turn 21 is, we’re sure, just a bonus.
“PSA: use ur fakes as much as possible bc if you wear a mask they can’t see ur whole face lol,” one adolescent posted to her not-of-legal-age brethren.
“Now that we have to wear masks, this is the best time to buy alcohol with a fake ID since the early 80’s …,” standup comedian Jason Lawhead posted on Twitter.
“I hope lots of teens are out there illegally buying alcohol with face masks on, confidently not looking at all like their fake ID,” wrote @dannyfailure.
A little artistry can go a long way. One TikTok video with over 1.5 million views depicts a blond girl getting wrinkles drawn on with makeup. The video then shows the made-up gal using a walker in a parking lot, clutching a bottle of pink liquid, wearing a baggy sweater, wire-rimmed glasses and a babushka headscarf.
In the comments, the poster said the “prank” took place in California. She “tried to talk as little as possible but she was like a little croaky,” she said. The “old lady” was apparently not asked to show an ID, and according to a caption by the poster, the store owner “was worried she wouldn’t b[e] able to carry [the bottles] here self.”
One video with over 2 million views shows a young woman rocking a gray wig, glasses and an old-person Halloween costume mask. With her surgical mask and gloves on, she seems to be an innocent octogenarian. The clip shows the gal returning from the mart with cans of Four Loko in tow, dancing with her friends while she rips off her mask.
Two million people so far have watched the video of a brunette in a headscarf and costume jewelry walk into a wine shop and later twerk on the side of the road holding bottles of wine.
Yet another sojourn sees a blonde accompanying her “grandmother” — a friend dressed up as a granny wearing a mask and gloves — through a convenience store.
“Oh, my God, it worked!” the poster says as the duo return to the car arm in arm carrying a handle of vodka.
“It’s too good, guys,” she said.