Age verification and ID checking has always been critical to safeguarding businesses and their licenses such as liquor stores, marijuana dispensaries, bars, nightclubs, and other establishments selling age-restricted products and services. However, in the post-COVID world, these businesses have had to adapt and respond with new modes of operation.<\/p>\n
Many of the things that worked in the past no longer makes sense. Daily operations have been examined and altered in accordance with closures or social distancing requirements. In particular, the ID checking processes at bars, liquor stores, and marijuana dispensaries have to been changed to ensure that they are safe, hygienic, and prohibit the spread of germs.<\/p>\n
Closure and Restructuring<\/strong><\/p>\n Many businesses that traditionally made use of ID checking and scanning technologies have been forced to shut down due to the pandemic. However, operations like markets, groceries, and marijuana dispensaries have been deemed essential services, due to which many of them remain open, operational, and profitable.<\/p>\n In the midst of reopenings and reclosings that scatter nationwide, people are determined to resume some normalcy to their lives. And businesses have already adapted to the new normal of post cvid19. With the goal to open businesses safely, this adaptation can mean different methods to different geographic regions and different corporate cultures. However, one method that runs through all businesses that include restaurants, bars, and retail stores such as tobacco, liquor and marijuana outlets is incorporating curbside pickup.<\/p>\n Curbside pickup allows the flexibility for employees and customers to stay safer and also scan IDs safely (without touching) and document IDs for all age sensitive transactions with an ID scanner. This is one of the most effective tools critical to staying error free and safeguarding their license so they can continue to sell age sensitive products or services.<\/p>\n Businesses are taking precautions to ensure that they do not inadvertently facilitate the transmission of disease during the ID and age verification process. The ever-evolving alcohol and marijuana delivery services will also have to adapt in order to maximize safety without compromising the rules and regulations around the sale of age-restricted products.<\/p>\n Minimizing Contact for Enhanced Safety<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the most important things that all businesses will have to focus on in the post-COVID world is the minimization of physical contact between people. Physical distancing is one of the ways to minimize microbes from spreading from person to person. The wearing of masks, gloves, and other protective gear by employees and customers alike are also ways in which this can be achieved.<\/p>\n Another factor that increases the need for physical contact is manual ID checking for ID and age verification. The store clerk or the delivery person still needs to scrutinize the ID card or driver\u2019s license presented by the customer. To eliminate the risk of person to person contact, using an ID scanner for age verification will allow employees to accurately and efficiently verify the age and ID and document the transaction without physically handling the ID card. Some states encourage data collection in case there is a need to contact trace.<\/p>\n