A UK-based social enterprise called Under Age Sales has established a new partnership with Retail Guardian, a software system which uses biometrics to aid retailers in the clampdown on sales of age restricted products.Retail Guardian is developing software that will help retailers to verify the identification and age of customers using fingerprint technology, reports Off Licence news.The system works by offering retailers the chance to scan and log the fingerprints of customers who have previously proven their age in the store, using a passport or drivers licence. The next time the customer is in the store, they can quickly and easily swipe their fingerprint on a piece of biometric scanning equipment, which highlights to the retailer that the customer is above the legal age to buy alcohol, tobacco or other age restricted products. The system also works to alert retailers to customers who have previously been refused the sale of age restricted products. The data stored is fully protected, and only shared with the store staff.Tony Allen, managing director of Under Age Sales, told the magazine: “Retailers are required to take all reasonable precautions to avoid the sale of age restricted products to children and young people. Sometimes, simply asking for proof of age isn't effective, so it's great news for the industry that we have the advanced technology of Retail Guardian available to assist retailers in their due diligence.”Anything which makes it easier for retailers to be sure they're protecting minors from coming into contact with age restricted products is warmly welcomed, and as such we anticipate this new arm of the Retail Guardian software to be a huge success.”Bharat Popat, owner of Oval Food, Wines and Spirits in Sidcup, was introduced to Retail Guardian by Under Age Sales and uses the fingerprint recognition software to verify the age of its customers.He said: “We have a relatively young clientele, aged between 16 and 35 typically. We enforce Challenge 25 but that isn't always effective as often, people forget their ID and become frustrated when they've bought our products so many times in the past. Alternatively, they might have shown their ID to one member of staff several times, but not another, who doesn't recognise them.”Installing Retail Guardian has made our training more effective, and means we can protect ourselves from the risk of being fined, should we ever inadvertently sell alcohol or tobacco to under age customers. For a small, independent business like ours, Retail Guardian is a significant help.”
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