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Age verification requirements in the UK have long been driven by the need to prevent underage access to restricted goods, including alcohol, tobacco, and gambling products. Over the past few years, this area has seen rapid technological advancements, with more retailers adopting automated systems to verify a customer’s age at the point of sale. Traditional methods such as requesting ID are now often accompanied by digital solutions like age estimation and facial recognition using AI-powered algorithms.
At Innovative Technology, our age estimation solutions provide a nonintrusive, privacy-conscious approach to verifying age without the need for physical ID, reducing friction in the customer journey. This is especially beneficial in sectors such as convenience stores and supermarkets, where compliance is essential, but a smooth customer experience is equally important.
According to the British Retail Consortium’s 2024 Crime Survey Report, violence and abuse against shop workers is a major concern. Violence and abuse towards staff has increased from 867 incidents a day last year to 1,300 incidents a day this year. The BRC’s recent report highlights that many incidents of violence and abuse are linked to the legal requirement for retail staff to enforce age-restricted sales laws by asking for ID, with employees facing prosecution if they fail to comply.
The report continues to recommend that the Government allow the use of digital age verification and estimation for alcohol purchases, the largest category of age-restricted sales, in the same way it’s permitted for other products. Citing the success of a limited trial, the BRC calls on the Home Office to take action.
The recent political shift in the UK has sparked widespread speculation about how various industries will be affected by the new Labour government. One area of interest, particularly for businesses dealing with age-restricted products, is age verification. The industry needs to push to make these technologies standardised and compliant to ensure the technology’s credibility. This is where businesses like Innovative Technology come in, providing cutting-edge age estimation technology that enables the retail sector to help push for regulatory demands.
But what can we expect from the new government when it comes to age verification regulations? Will Labour’s leadership drive significant changes, or will the regulatory landscape remain largely the same?
Labour’s stance on technology, digital privacy, and regulatory frameworks will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of age verification in the UK. Whilst the new government has not yet provided clear-cut policies specifically targeting the age verification industry, there are indications that digital transformation and data privacy will be key areas of focus.
Labour has been vocal about the need for greater transparency and fairness in tech-driven sectors, which may lead to a tightening of standards for age verification solutions. This could mean stronger data protection measures and a more robust regulatory framework for businesses using AI and machine learning tools to estimate age.
In coalition with our competitors, we welcome any regulations which encourage the use of digital technologies to further the secure selling of age-restricted items, advancing the safety of society. This collaborative approach underscores the importance of setting industry-wide standards that ensure privacy whilst driving innovation that betters society.
At Innovative Technology, our solutions are designed with privacy at their core, so this focus on privacy won’t mean reworking our offerings. Our solutions, for instance, don’t store personal data and all processing is done on the device rather than over a network, making them a compliant and forward-thinking option under stricter regulations.
Whilst the Labour government has yet to introduce any significant legislative changes in age verification, there are a few areas where businesses should be paying close attention:
The growing adoption of age verification solutions contrasts with the government’s slower incorporation of these technologies into their policies. As manufacturers of this technology, we will continue to collaborate with the age assurance industry and retailers to encourage decisive action. By doing so, we can ensure that legal, safe and supportive regulations are put in place to legitimise and protect the use of these essential tools.
Innovative Technology’s age estimation solutions are well-positioned to address potential regulatory changes. As the industry moves towards greater digitalisation and automation, it’s essential to focus on innovation that enhances both compliance and customer convenience. By embracing AI-driven solutions, retailers can meet existing regulations and future-proof their operations against potential changes under the new Labour government.
Whilst there is still uncertainty about the Labour government’s specific approach to age verification, businesses should prepare for the possibility of stricter regulations, especially concerning data protection and online retail. For those utilising age estimation technology, the outlook remains positive. As privacy-friendly solutions that don’t store personal data become more attractive to regulators, the industry can continue to thrive under a more digitally-focused and consumer-protective regulatory framework.
Innovative Technology is committed to helping the retail sector adapt to these changes, providing innovative, compliant, and forward-thinking solutions to meet the evolving needs of age verification in the UK.
To learn more about how your business can embrace age estimation technology whilst staying compliant with Challenge 25, read “Everything you need to know about Challenge 25”.