ITL’s biometric technology helps the vaping industry combat underage sales

Vaping has seen a large surge in popularity in many countries over the past few years, with teenage use accelerating at an alarming rate.  In the UK, a recent Serve Legal survey found a massive 42% of respondents had tried a vape before turning 18. Shops selling vapes to children under the legal age without conducting appropriate and effective age checks is a huge contributing factor. The latest biometric technology from Innovative Technology (ITL) can support retailers with the necessary tools to ensure accurate age checks are in place.

Commenting on ITL’s age estimation technology, Dr Andrew O’Brien, Product Manager – Biometrics said, “Using biometric technology for age checks works by analysing the customer’s facial features to calculate their age. This can automate the age check process and offer servers an added layer of security and confidence when selling age-restricted products. As a society we want to protect the underage from accessing age restricted items, to do so we must support the retailers in performing age checks. Our biometric range of products are designed as tools to assist retailers and make the age check process effective and efficient”.

MyCheckr, from Innovative Technology, is a stand-alone solution ideal for retailers selling age restricted goods such as vapes. Already being utilised in a number of convenience stores it is equipped with a camera and a screen that predicts a customer’s age quickly and completely anonymously.

Commenting on a MyCheckr recent install, Simon Lawrence, Business Owner of Kwik Vape, in Worthing, West Sussex said, “We’ve recently added another level of age verification protection instore, which I can highly recommend to anyone who sells age restricted goods. MyCheckr gives our staff more confidence to ask for ID when a customer is flagged as underage avoiding any potential conflict. We are already seeing the device deter minors trying to purchase vapes. We’re also using the MyCheckr ^Mini version at our other counter which works in the same way just without a screen. This surprisingly low priced tech is a great addition to our store. It gives us another layer of protection and allows us to further strengthen our defences to stop these products getting into the hands of under 18s. The message to kids from us at Kwik Vape is that vaping is not cool, it is a harm reduced option for smokers, if you don’t smoke then do not vape!”

In the UK, like many European countries, the legal age to purchase and use an e-cigarette is 18 years. The penalty for selling e-cigarettes with nicotine containing vape juices to someone underage is currently a £2,500 fine with the number of fines being reported in the industry on the increase. Biometric technology can help retailers by giving them an extra level of assurance during the age check process and prevent fines being issued.

Concluding John Vallis, ITL Senior Business Development Manager said, “Simon from Kwik Vape is really passionate about preventing underage vape sales so it’s fantastic to get our age check device out into this growing industry. Being one of the first biometric age estimation devices to receive GDPR accreditation, it means that by using our solutions there is no need for retailers to worry about data privacy as no images are stored on the device. Plus its affordable for even the smallest retail outlet, available at a one-off cost, with no charges per individual age check. I look forward to working with other vape stores up and down the country to get this rolled out on a national scale.”