Vivian Marlowe
With the recent changes in alcohol laws in some states, grocery stores can now sell beer and wine. To verify that customers are of legal age to purchase alcohol, some retailers are scanning driver's licenses. This practice has raised concerns among customers and cybersecurity experts about potential access to personal information, including name, address, birthday, height, weight, and driver's license number. While businesses can generally choose to scan IDs, there are varying state regulations, and lawsuits in Oregon and other states allege that universal ID checks for alcohol purchases violate privacy laws. Customers can refuse an ID scan and request a manual check, but ID scanners offer added security, accuracy, and efficiency for retailers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To verify the customer is over the legal drinking age, to eliminate guesswork and to prevent the sale of alcohol to minors |
| Access to personal information | The barcode on the back of a driver's license contains personal information such as name, address, birthday, height, weight, and driver's license number |
| Privacy concerns | Privacy watchdog groups and cybersecurity experts have raised concerns about the potential for personal information to be stolen or misused |
| Legal status | While some states, like Oregon, have laws against scanning IDs for alcohol purchases, other states may permit or encourage the use of age verification equipment |
| Retailer policies | Retailers may have their own policies requiring ID scans for alcohol purchases, regardless of age |
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What You'll Learn
To verify customers are of legal drinking age
Many grocery stores and retailers in the United States have implemented policies that require customers attempting to purchase alcohol to present a valid ID, which is then scanned. The primary purpose of this practice is to verify that customers meet the legal drinking age, typically 21 years old in the US. By scanning IDs, retailers can accurately determine a customer's age and ensure compliance with laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors.
The barcode on a driver's license contains various personal information, including name, address, date of birth, height, weight, and the license number. Scanners read this barcode to extract the information and confirm the customer's age. This method is considered more reliable than manual age verification, where a clerk visually inspects the ID and estimates the customer's age.
While the primary goal is age verification, concerns have been raised about the potential misuse of scanned information. Privacy advocates and cybersecurity experts caution that scanning IDs may expose individuals to risks if their personal information falls into the wrong hands. There are worries about data storage, sharing, and potential unauthorized access by third parties. In some states, like Oregon, lawsuits have been filed challenging the legality of universal ID scanning for alcohol purchases, citing conflicts with state laws.
To address privacy concerns, some retailers, such as Plaid Pantry, have asserted that they do not capture, collect, or store any personal information during the ID scanning process. They claim to focus solely on the date of birth for age verification. Additionally, customers can refuse to have their IDs scanned and instead request that a manager manually inspect the ID to ensure they are of legal drinking age.
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To prevent the sale of alcohol to minors
The primary reason grocery stores scan IDs before selling alcohol is to prevent the sale of alcohol to minors. This measure is in place to ensure compliance with laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol to individuals under the legal drinking age, which is typically set at 21 years old in the United States. By scanning IDs, retailers can verify the customer's age and birthdate, reducing the risk of accidentally selling alcohol to underage individuals.
While the intention behind these scans is to prevent underage access to alcohol, the practice has sparked concerns about privacy and data security. Some customers worry that their personal information, such as name, address, birthday, height, weight, and driver's license number, may be accessed and potentially stored or misused. These concerns are heightened by the lack of regulation regarding how IDs are checked and the absence of laws protecting individuals' information during such transactions.
In some states, such as Oregon, lawsuits have been filed challenging the legality of universal ID scanning policies. Plaintiffs argue that scanning IDs for all alcohol purchases, regardless of the customer's apparent age, conflicts with state laws. Retailers, on the other hand, defend these policies as a means to eliminate guesswork, ensure compliance with age restrictions, and prevent sales to minors. They assert that scanning provides a more accurate and efficient method of age verification than visual inspection of IDs.
To address privacy concerns, some retailers, like Plaid Pantry, have stated that they do not capture, collect, or store any personal information during the ID scanning process. They claim to focus solely on the date of birth for age verification. However, privacy watchdog groups continue to advocate for stronger protections to prevent the potential misuse or sale of individuals' information obtained through ID scans.
While the practice of scanning IDs to prevent underage alcohol sales is well-intentioned, it highlights the delicate balance between public safety and individual privacy rights. As technology plays a growing role in age verification, ongoing discussions and legislative efforts aim to establish clear guidelines for data handling during such transactions, ensuring that personal information remains secure and is not exploited.
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To eliminate guesswork and profiling
Grocery stores scan IDs for alcohol purchases to eliminate guesswork about a customer's age and to prevent profiling. This method is more efficient than having the clerk visually inspect the ID, as it automates the process of verifying that a customer is above the legal drinking age. By scanning the barcode on the back of a driver's license, the machine can read the customer's name, address, birthday, height, weight, and driver's license number, all of which are also printed on the front of the ID. This helps to ensure that the ID is authentic and has not been tampered with.
While this practice is intended to reduce the risk of selling alcohol to minors, it has raised concerns about privacy and data security. Some customers may feel uncomfortable with the idea that their personal information could be stored or shared without their consent. In fact, there have been instances where privacy watchdog groups have expressed worries about data brokers scanning and storing IDs. In response to these concerns, some retailers, such as Plaid Pantry, have asserted that they do not capture, collect, or store any personal information when carding customers, only checking the date of birth.
The legality of scanning IDs for alcohol purchases has been contested in certain states. For example, in Oregon, lawsuits have been filed alleging that the practice conflicts with state law. On the other hand, the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) specifically permits the sale of alcohol using age verification equipment and recommends it for retailers who have repeatedly sold alcohol to minors. Similarly, in Oklahoma, while there is no law regulating how IDs are checked, cyber security experts have cautioned consumers about the potential risks of their personal information being stolen or misused when their IDs are scanned.
To address privacy concerns, some customers may choose to refuse the scanning of their ID and instead request that a manager physically inspects it. However, it's important to note that retailers have the right to implement their own policies regarding ID checks, as long as they comply with state and local laws. Ultimately, the practice of scanning IDs for alcohol purchases aims to strike a balance between preventing underage access to alcohol and protecting the privacy and security of customers' personal information.
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To catch fake IDs
Grocery stores scan IDs to catch fake IDs, reduce errors, and quickly check driver's licenses. While some states require ID scanning for alcohol sales, others protect businesses that scan IDs under "affirmative defense" laws, which offer legal protection against unknowingly selling to minors. For example, Arizona's affirmative defense law relates to alcohol sales.
ID scanners can collect detailed information, including names, addresses, images, and biometric data, but the collection of sensitive information often requires customer consent. Some scanners have an "anti-pass back" feature, alerting staff to multiple scans from the same ID and preventing banned individuals from re-entering.
To detect fake IDs, staff should feel the card for rigidity, checking for bumps, ridges, and irregularities, especially near the photo and date of birth. Fake IDs often differ in weight, thickness, and smoothness of edges. They can also look for laser-engraved tactile signatures and dates of birth, which are raised on legitimate IDs.
Additionally, staff can ask customers to state their ID or license number, confirm personal information, or respond to questions about their birth month. If the customer responds with a number instead of the month's name, they may be lying. Staff can also compare the signature on the ID to the customer's signature. If the ID appears fake, staff can refuse the sale and, depending on company policy, either return the ID or confiscate it.
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To access and store personal information
When a store scans your ID, they gain access to your personal information. The barcode on the back of your license contains an electronic copy of the information on the front, including your name, address, birthday, height, weight, and driver's license number. This information can potentially be stored and misused, as there are currently no laws regulating how IDs are checked or what retailers do with the information they collect. While stores will often claim that they are not storing any information, privacy watchdog groups have expressed concern about the potential for data brokers to access and misuse this personal information.
In some states, such as Oregon, lawsuits have been filed against retailers scanning IDs for alcohol purchases, alleging that it is illegal under state law. However, other states, such as Oklahoma, have recently implemented new alcohol laws that allow grocery stores to sell beer and wine and require ID scans to verify customers' age. This has raised concerns among cybersecurity experts about the potential for unauthorized access to and misuse of personal information.
While the universal ID policy is intended to eliminate guesswork and ensure that minors do not purchase alcohol, it has sparked debates about privacy and data protection. Some states, like New York, have proposed bills to enact privacy protections and prevent the scanning, collection, dissemination, or sale of personal information from drivers' licenses or ID cards. However, such legislation has faced delays in being enacted.
Customers who are concerned about their privacy can ask store clerks or managers about their policies regarding the storage and use of scanned information. They also have the right to refuse to have their license scanned and request a physical check of their ID instead.
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Frequently asked questions
Grocery stores scan IDs to verify that customers are old enough to purchase alcohol. The barcode on a driver's license contains personal information such as name, address, birthday, height, weight, and driver's license number.
The legality of ID scanning depends on the state. While some states like Oregon and New Hampshire prohibit ID scanning, others like Nevada, Missouri, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Michigan require ID scans for certain types of sales.
There are potential risks to personal information when IDs are scanned. Cyber security experts caution that scanned IDs could give retailers access to personal information, which could be stolen or misused if it falls into the wrong hands.
