Amazon Adds Age-Verification Feature to its Palm-Based System for Purchasing Alcohol

Amazon is launching a way for drinkers to buy alcohol without showing their identification cards. Through the touchless payment device Amazon One, users will be able to purchase liquor by only scanning their palms.

Amazon One's Age-Verification Feature

Amazon announced on Monday that its Amazon One scanner can now be used in places like bars and pubs, making an alternative way to make payments and confirm one's age when purchasing liquor. Bloomberg reported that as easy as swiping their palm on the scanner, the system will let users proceed with their transactions.

Waitresses and bartenders will be able to verify a customer's eligibility of purchasing alcohol when a "21+" message appears on the scanner. A visual match can also be done as the system will show a user-uploader photo on the screen. Once the customer is ready to pay, they will simply hover their palm over the device and will be charged for their purchase.

Amazon One's age verification capability will be launched first at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, which is the home of the Colorado Rockies Major League Baseball team. Colorado Rockies Food Service Operations and Development Senior Director John McKay stated that he is delighted that they will get to experience this first.

"At Coors Field, we have always prided ourselves in putting customer experience first. As the first sports stadium to enable cutting-edge palm recognition technology like Amazon One for age verification, we are enabling a friction-free experience for Colorado Rockies fans so they can grab a drink and get back to the game faster," he stated.

How Will It Work?

As the palm-scanner payment system has already been launched nationwide at different Amazon Whole Foods branches, enrolled customers can take advantage of the newly added age-verification feature by visiting one.amazon.com. Users will be required to upload their photo of the front and back of their government-issued IDs and a selfie.

According to CNBC's report, Amazon clarified that it does not store customers' IDs, as an ISO 27001-certified third-party provider verifies the documentation when the customer uploaded their verification. New customers can also pre-enroll online or at the enrollment kiosk wherever Amazon One is available.

Adding an age-verification feature to the "frictionless" payment is very significant for retailers, bars, and breweries as it gives convenience, especially in busy places. Longer transactions put a strain on employee activity, which is why Amazon One's newly added feature becomes helpful to them. This will also be rolled out to additional establishments in the next few months.

Amazon stated on its news room that Amazon One is available at more than 100 Whole Foods Market stores, selected Amazon Go, and Amazon Fresh Stores. Customers can also utilize the palm-scanning payment system at Panera Bread restaurants, sports stadiums, entertainment venues, convenience stores, travel retailers, entertainment venues, and more.