Supermarket giant ASDA wants shoppers to be able to ID themselves when buying age-verified products like Alcohol.
The retailer is trialling a new system that will see cameras estimate how old a shopper is without the need of a store assistant.
With the new system, shoppers won't need to wait for a member of staff to come over and manually check their ID when using a self-service till.
Instead, customers simply have to look up at “age estimation” cameras in the self-checkout screen that will guess your age and verify the purchase.
If the system detects a customer looks younger than 25, they can prove their age through Yoti and Post Office EasyID apps.
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Those who do not wish to use the digital system at the self-checkouts have the option to show their ID to an Asda worker.
The grocer is testing the new technology out in its Pudsey and Stevenage stores and customers will only be able to self-ID on alcohol products.
It comes as part of a Home Office test to allow the trial of technologies that can assist in the requirement for age verification in the retail sale of alcohol.
The trial, which will run until May, is in partnership with checkout technology leaders NCR and digital identity network, Yoti.
Asda is also launching a test early next month that will allow colleagues in four stores to test payments via the mobile Scan and Go app, says the Mirror.
Geri Hebberd, senior director of retail innovation at Asda, said: “We know how time pressed some of our customers are, so we always want to make things quicker and easier for them when they shop with us.
“We are excited to be the first retailer in the UK to test this new technology and are looking forward to seeing what our customers think of the trial.
“The use of this software will enable colleagues to focus on serving customers and make sure they have an excellent experience whilst in store.”
Robin Tombs, CEO of Yoti said: “Waiting for age approval at the self-checkout is sometimes frustrating for shoppers, but Asda customers in Pudsey and Stevenage will now be able to prove their age in seconds without the wait using Yoti Facial Age Estimation or the free Yoti ID app.
“This in turn will enable Asda colleagues to focus on the most important part of their job – serving customers.
“Our age verification solutions are helping retailers like Asda meet the requirements of regulators worldwide and keep pace with consumer demands for fast and convenient services, while preserving people’s privacy.”
