ITL’s biometric technology helps the vaping industry combat underage sales

Biometrics Team •  3 July 2023

Vaping has seen a large surge in popularity in many countries over the past few years, with teenage use accelerating at an alarming rate.  In the UK, a recent Serve Legal survey found a massive 42% of respondents had tried a vape before turning 18. Shops selling vapes to children under the legal age without conducting appropriate and effective age checks is a huge contributing factor. The latest biometric technology from Innovative Technology (ITL) can support retailers with the necessary tools to ensure accurate age checks are in place.


Commenting on ITL’s age estimation technology, Dr Andrew O'Brien, Product Manager – Biometrics said, “Using biometric technology for age checks works by analysing the customer’s facial features to calculate their age. This can automate the age check process and offer servers an added layer of security and confidence when selling age-restricted products. As a society we want to protect the underage from accessing age restricted items, to do so we must support the retailers in performing age checks. Our biometric range of products are designed as tools to assist retailers and make the age check process effective and efficient”.

MyCheckr, from Innovative Technology, is a stand-alone solution ideal for retailers selling age restricted goods such as vapes. Already being utilised in a number of convenience stores it is equipped with a camera and a screen that predicts a customer’s age quickly and completely anonymously.


Commenting on a MyCheckr recent install, Simon Lawrence, Business Owner of Kwik Vape, in Worthing, West Sussex said, “We’ve recently added another level of age verification protection instore, which I can highly recommend to anyone who sells age restricted goods. MyCheckr gives our staff more confidence to ask for ID when a customer is flagged as underage avoiding any potential conflict. We are already seeing the device deter minors trying to purchase vapes. We’re also using the MyCheckr Mini version at our other counter which works in the same way just without a screen. This surprisingly low priced tech is a great addition to our store. It gives us another layer of protection and allows us to further strengthen our defences to stop these products getting into the hands of under 18s. The message to kids from us at Kwik Vape is that vaping is not cool, it is a harm reduced option for smokers, if you don't smoke then do not vape!”

In the UK, like many European countries, the legal age to purchase and use an e-cigarette is 18 years. The penalty for selling e-cigarettes with nicotine containing vape juices to someone underage is currently a £2,500 fine with the number of fines being reported in the industry on the increase. Biometric technology can help retailers by giving them an extra level of assurance during the age check process and prevent fines being issued.



Concluding John Vallis, ITL Senior Business Development Manager said, “Simon from Kwik Vape is really passionate about preventing underage vape sales so it’s fantastic to get our age check device out into this growing industry. Being one of the first biometric age estimation devices to receive GDPR accreditation, it means that by using our solutions there is no need for retailers to worry about data privacy as no images are stored on the device. Plus its affordable for even the smallest retail outlet, available at a one-off cost, with no charges per individual age check. I look forward to working with other vape stores up and down the country to get this rolled out on a national scale.”


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The use of biometric technology is an emerging way that retailers have access to invaluable consumer analytics to improve the retail experience. Customer intelligence is vital for retailers to see the type of customer visiting their stores, to help plan to attract different cohorts into their shop, organise staffing levels – or even determine effectiveness of new marketing drives. Read to discover the critical way consumer analytics, powered by biometric technology, can give retailers a more cohesive way to use customer intelligence. What can we learn from consumer analytics? Biometric data including estimated gender and age can be used to generate anonymous demographic data while maintaining customers’ privacy. The data can then be analysed to categorise consumer groups and analyse the effectiveness of targeting market campaigns to help continuously improve segmentation and refine marketing drives. This information enhances the understanding of customer habits and gives retailers more knowledge about customer-centric activities. For example, you may learn when women are more likely to shop, so you can tailor messaging or adverts on display at a certain time to provide a more relevant in-store experience. Innovative Technology has developed MyCheckr , an all-in-one device that anonymously captures consumer analytics without violating an individual’s privacy. Our analytics function enables retailers to see what customers are on their premises, categorise them into appropriate demographics and predict the timings they shop, helping business owners to tailor marketing campaigns accordingly. Not only do our devices help retain customer loyalty, but they can also help attract different cohorts. Being aware of timings in which customers shop is also helpful for scheduling rotas for shift workers effectively. The data may show a surge in customers at specific times and days, and managers can choose to assign more staff during that period to ensure quality customer service and reduced waiting times. Similarly, at times of the day when there are fewer customers, rotas can be planned to involve fewer staff members and reduce unnecessary expenditures. Consumer analytics as a measure of success As well as using biometric data to help you plan marketing strategies and campaigns, it can also be used to help measure the success of them. At Innovative Technology, we develop solutions that not only retrieve the data to help you decide on your next marketing strategy, but also provide answers to whether your efforts have been successful. Say, for example, that you’ve noticed fewer people aged 25-35 in your premises, and you’ve implemented a campaign to encourage more of this demographic. You’ll be able to tell whether your campaign is working by measuring if more 25-35 year olds are coming through your doors. You can then tailor the campaign accordingly, using consumer analytics as a continuous measure of how the activity is performing. An easy integration MyCheckr is a standalone device which requires no integration, simply plug in and get started straight away. The device processes data locally with instant results, without storing any information, so customer privacy is never at risk. No internet is required with all functions available offline, and there are no hidden costs or subscriptions. The new analytical features available on MyCheckr are intended to help retailers discover more about their customers in a completely anonymous way, ensuring that both parties are benefiting from the arrangement - customers know their data is protected, and businesses are able to drive marketing with AI-based consumer analytics. For further information, see our full range of products .
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