In a significant step towards modernizing the enforcement of age restrictions for tobacco sales, several retail outlets across the Netherlands have started utilizing face scanners to verify the age of customers before allowing the purchase of cigarettes.
Implementation of Face Scanners
About 100 outlets in the Netherlands have adopted this technology so far. These face scanners employ artificial intelligence to analyze facial features such as skin condition and wrinkles to estimate a customer’s age. According to Theo Snijders, CEO of H@nd, the company behind these scanners, the process mirrors that used in airports.
- How It Works: If the AI determines the customer appears over the age of 25, the sale proceeds without further checks. However, if the scanner is uncertain of the customer’s age, it requests an ID scan for verification.
- Privacy and Legal Compliance: The scanners have been designed in consultation with NVWA (a product safety organization), privacy watchdogs, and legal experts to ensure that they do not compromise customer privacy. Notably, the scanners do not retain any personal data; they only log the number of scans conducted.
Regulations and Penalties
Non-compliance with the age verification requirements can result in substantial penalties for retailers, including fines up to €9,000 and potential temporary suspension of their license to sell tobacco products. This stringent approach underscores the seriousness with which Dutch authorities are tackling underage smoking.
Broader Implications and Future Steps
Starting July 2024, tobacco sales will be further restricted to specialist stores and gas stations, limiting the availability of these products and controlling the points of sale more tightly. This move aligns with broader efforts to reduce smoking rates, particularly among the youth.
This adoption of digital age checks in the Netherlands could serve as a model for other countries looking to enhance compliance with tobacco sale regulations. Such technologies not only streamline the verification process but also ensure a higher degree of accuracy in age determination, potentially reducing illegal sales to minors.
Global Perspective This initiative is part of a larger trend where tech firms and vape stores globally are exploring digital age-verification tools. Similar projects have been reported in various markets, including a notable initiative in Italy as covered by Tobacco Reporter.
As these technologies evolve, they could significantly impact how regulatory compliance is managed in the retail sector, especially in markets that are tightly regulated like tobacco and vaping products.
