Businesses in Illinois selling alcohol now have something new in their toolbox to fight underage drinking and fake identification.
According to the Illinois Liquor Control Commission, Mobile IDs, which rolled out on Wednesday, offer a big leap forward in age verification technology, ensuring bars, restaurants, retailers, and other event venues operate in safer, more secure environments.
“With advancing technology, community safety remains a collective responsibility,” said ILCC Executive Director Lisa Gardner. “At ILCC, preventing youth alcohol access has continually topped our agendas, and Mobile IDs have marked a remarkable milestone in these efforts.”
Beginning Wednesday, citizens in Illinois are now able to scan their driver’s licenses and state ID cards on their iPhones or Apple Watches via a new initiative offered by the Illinois Secretary of State’s office.
For companies, the major advantage is security. Mobile IDs have encrypted, tamper-resistant designs, rendering them extremely difficult to counterfeit compared to their physical counterparts.
“Through the utilization of Mobile ID verification resources, companies are now in a better position to verify ages, thereby complementing efforts in education, enforcement, and compliance initiatives at the state level,” Gardner said.
Licensed establishments must understand that customers cannot simply ‘show’ their Mobile ID on their phone screen. Businesses are required to verify the validity of the Mobile ID before accepting it as proof of age.
The Illinois Secretary of State’s office provides a free Mobile ID Check App for iPhone users through the Apple App Store. Using this app is the easiest and most cost-effective way for businesses to comply with verification requirements.
Businesses can employ an ISO 18013-5 compliant reader, although costs for such equipment are involved. Proof in any other manner will not exempt a business from their legal obligation to ascertain age before an alcohol purchase is made.
“This launch is more than just an impressive achievement in technology, it is in fact an instrument for improving everyday operations, making them safer, smoother, and more secure,” Gardner said.
The Mobile ID Check App can be downloaded for free from the App Store. For those companies wanting hardware-based options, some providers of ISO 18013-5-compliant readers include Desko, Acuant Store (IDology), MyNextID, Adaptive Recognition, Credence ID, MATTR Global, Veridos, Incode, IDScan.net, E-Seek, Inc., and Socket Mobile. ILCC does not sponsor or recommend any one supplier.
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