Great Britain Government plans to implement artificial intelligence technology to evaluate the age of individuals purchasing alcohol in supermarkets. This innovation aims to automate the age verification process, eliminating the need for manual document checks at the cash desk.
Testing of this technology has already been conducted in major retail chains including Tesco, ASDA, Morrisons, and Co-OP. Cameras installed at the self-service cash desks scan the buyer’s face within three seconds. If the system determines that the buyer is under the age of 25, they will be required to present identification to the staff. Similar pilot projects have also been carried out in smaller stores, where the system served as a management operator, aiding retailers in making more informed decisions.
These initiatives are part of the broader efforts of the UK government to tighten regulations surrounding the sale of alcohol. The Ministry of Internal Affairs is also exploring the implementation of “identification certificates.” These certificates would involve users uploading official documents and photographs to an application, which could then be presented in place of a physical identity certificate.
The British authorities see this new technology as a means to reduce the number of attacks on store workers and decrease crimes related to alcohol. Additionally, they plan to extend the use of this system to verify the age of online alcohol purchases, similar to the current age verification process for knife deliveries.
In an official statement, the government expressed its interest in ensuring the safe and responsible use of new technologies to enhance consumer service quality and working conditions for retailers. As part of this, consultations are being held to determine the feasibility of amending the Licensing Act of 2003 to allow for the use of digital identity certificates and corresponding technologies for verifying the age of buyers.