If you run an age-restricted business, such as a liquor store, or when you organize events that include age-restricted activities, it’s important to ensure compliance. Effective strategies for monitoring and verifying the age of the attendees will keep you on the safe side of the law and ensure your event continues with minimal disruptions.
Fortunately, you don’t have to rely on outdated age-verification methods to secure your business or achieve compliance in an age-restricted event. Here are a few practical tech tips that you can employ to boost your event’s security and compliance.
Invest in Clear Communication and Signage
For physical events and walk-in businesses, you can install glowing LED display signage that communicates the age restrictions for specific products in your store or general events. This way, you can set expectations to prevent confusion from the outset and minimize the chances of underage clients accessing restricted areas or products.
When marketing your event or products online, you can include age restriction information on all promotional materials on ticketing pages, social media, and websites. To minimize confusion, the information on your digital signage and online information should be written in a language and symbols everyone understands.
Embrace Age Verification Systems
In cases where you have to physically or virtually verify your client’s age before allowing access or serving them, you may use several age verification techniques. Some of the most common options for verification include the following:
- ID document scanning: In an age where document fraud and falsification are rampant, you need a reliable ID document scanner to protect your business. For instance, you can use a driving license scanner to verify the authenticity of client licenses and if they’re of age to attend your event or buy your products. This simple yet effective procedure can save you a lot of trouble from law enforcers.
- Digital IDs or verified social media accounts: Users can also be verified as adults if they present government-issued digital IDs or verified social media accounts. A user with a verified social media account has most likely attained the legal age to have the documents for account verification. Only check to ensure it’s the same person in both instances.
- Database scrutiny: In the unlikely event that you have to go a step further to verify a client’s age, database scrutiny can be a thorough verification approach to consider. This involves verifying against mobile provider data, voter registers, and other database checks to cross-reference user information against official records.
Don’t Forget Age Gating
Age gating is a technical practice in digital content management that helps website owners restrict access based on age. In this method, a pop-up or page appears on top of the content a user is interested in, asking them to confirm their legal age before continuing.
While this method’s authenticity largely depends on the user’s honesty, it acts as the first defense against underage access. Honest users who don’t meet the minimum age requirements can turn back at this point. However, if dishonest users lie about their age here, they might gain access to the content, but you can use other security measures to lock them out.
Ensuring compliance and security in age-restricted businesses and events can save you from legal tussles. By implementing these tips, you can manage your events safely and successfully.
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