NEW BRUNSWICK — State investigators raided a New Brunswick bar early today, charging 23 people, ages 17 to 20, with underage drinking, and arrested a 19-year-old bartender and a 19-year-old bouncer.

Jerry Fischer, director of the state Division of Alcohol Beverage Control, said investigators from his agency and the state Division of Justice, along with New Brunswick police, entered the Scarlet Pub, on Easton Ave., shortly after midnight this morning.

One patron was age 17 and others were ages 18 to 20, officials said. They said five people were charged with having fake identification, and one person was found with a small amount of marijuana.

"Those under the age of 21 need to know that if they break the law by drinking alcohol, they could face serious consequences," Fischer said in a statement issued by his office.

Fischer noted the pub is near the Rutgers University campus.

Police also charged two bartenders, Marc Ng, 19, of Marlboro, and Thomas Holman, 27, of the Somerset section of Franklin Township, with selling alcohol to underage customers, Fischer said. He said a bouncer, Carl Buchholz, 19, of Malvern, Pa., was charged with aiding and abetting underage drinking.

Minimum age for a bartender in New Jersey is 18.

Investigators staged the raid after getting a tip that the bar was crowded with underage customers, Fischer said.

He said it was part of his division's "College Initiative," a continuing program targeting underage drinking at college communities throughout the state.

State officials will review the pub's liquor license for possible administrative charges, the director said.

Calls to the pub were not returned this afternoon.

Serving underage drinks is a disorderly person's offense carrying a minimum $500 fine upon conviction. Underage drinking is also a disorderly person's offense punishable by a $500 fine and six-month suspension of a driver's license upon conviction.