5 Best Age Verification Software Tools for Liquor Stores
Do you want to shell out thousands of dollars in fines, and possibly deal with up to 60 days of jail time?
Of course not!
The cost of selling alcohol to a minor varies by state, but in most states, there is a cash penalty, as well as the potential for criminal charges — and that’s just for a first offense. You need to invest in age verification software to avoid these risks and ensure you always know who you’re selling to.
This post will cover five reliable choices for age verification software you may want to explore for your liquor store. For each, we’ll cover additional software features and pricing.
Key Features and Benefits of Age Verification Software
Age verification software is not optional for modern-day liquor store operations: It’s a must-have. Without these tools, you rely on faulty, manual identification checks to protect your business from legal challenges, fines, and penalties.
Let’s look at some ways age verification software can protect your business and prevent you from accidentally selling to minors.
- ID Scanning & Barcode Recognition: Most age verification software tools can scan IDs or recognize barcodes on identification documents, enabling quick and accurate age verification.
- Document Authentication & Biometric Verification: Advanced systems offer document authentication to detect fraudulent IDs. Biometric verification, such as facial recognition, adds an extra layer of security.
- Database Integration & Mobile App Support: Integration with databases helps verify IDs against official records. Mobile app support allows for flexible verification processes.
- QR Code Verification & Customizable Settings: Some systems use QR codes for verification, which can be scanned using mobile devices. Customizable settings adapt the software to your specific needs.
- Record Keeping & Alerts/Notifications: The software maintains records of verifications for compliance purposes. Alerts and notifications signal staff when age verification is required.
- Data Security: Robust security measures protect sensitive customer information and maintain privacy, protecting your business’ reputation and lowering your risk of a data breach.
Harnessing the power of age verification software allows your liquor store to enhance your compliance efforts and create a smoother, safer shopping experience for your customers. But those aren’t the only benefits! Some additional benefits you can enjoy when you implement a robust age verification software tool include:
- Legal Compliance & Risk Reduction: The foremost benefit is ensuring compliance with age-related regulations, reducing the risk of hefty fines and legal consequences.
- Efficiency & Customer Satisfaction: Age verification software speeds up transactions by swiftly confirming a customer's age.
- Accurate Verification & Brand Reputation: The software minimizes human error in age assessment, ensuring accurate and consistent verification. This accuracy safeguards your store’s reputation.
- Employee Training & Audit Trail: Training staff to recognize and verify IDs manually can be challenging. Age verification simplifies this process. Additionally, your software solution will produce a record of all verifications, aiding in internal reviews and audits.
- Real-Time Verification: The software verifies ages in real time, minimizing delays at the point of sale.
- Adaptation to Regulations: Reputable age verification software can be updated to comply with changing regulations, future-proofing your business.
Considering these benefits alongside the risks of not adopting age verification software, it’s clear that investing in a reliable solution is vital to your store’s success. However, not all providers are created equal. When selecting a reputable provider, it's crucial to consider factors beyond just features!
With all this in mind, let’s dive into our list of the best age verification software tools for liquor stores.
1. Bottle POS
Best for: Independent liquor stores
Bottle POS is an all-in-one point of sale solution designed specifically for liquor stores. Our solution is designed to empower your business growth, built with advanced automation, AI-driven insights, and tailored features to optimize decision-making for your store.
We offer advanced age verification features that enable you and your staff to quickly and confidently approve customers to purchase your products and minimize the risk of selling to minors.
Top features in addition to age verification:
- Dual pricing options to encourage cash sales
- 24/7 mobile inventory management
- Security features to minimize shrinkage
- E-commerce integrations
- Integrated customer loyalty features
Pricing: Our transparent build and price tool gives you the power to create your own custom solution that’s perfect for your store!
2. Token of Trust
Best for: E-commerce
Token of Trust offers a seamless age verification solution for streamlined customer access to age-restricted products. Their platform ensures swift and compliant transactions by delivering ultra-fast age checks and secure ID capture. Token of Trust also integrates with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and various APIs.
Top features in addition to age verification:
- Expedited verifications for loyal customers
- Reputation reports for customer transparency
- Advanced data security measures
Pricing: You can start with a free trial, but all of Token of Trust’s pricing models are available upon request only.
3. POS Nation
Best for: Small to mid-sized businesses
POS Nation is a trusted point of sale provider for liquor stores, grocery stores, general retail, and more. POS Nation provides customizable solutions that meet your liquor store's unique demands, including advanced age verification features. These features ensure compliant transactions by swiftly verifying customer age for age-restricted products. This capability streamlines the purchasing process while maintaining legal requirements.
Top features in addition to age verification:
- Mix and match bottle pricing
- Centralized vendor management
- Simplified inventory
- Advanced sales reporting
Pricing: POS Nation offers multiple packages starting at $149 per month.
4. IDScan.Net
Best for: Bars and nightclubs
IDScan.net offers robust ID scanning solutions tailored for retail stores, encompassing comprehensive fraud prevention and age verification capabilities. These solutions serve as powerful tools in the fight against return fraud, chargeback fraud, and age verification during a standard purchase.
IDScan.net also offers loss prevention solutions that enable store managers, executives, and loss prevention teams to mitigate risks effectively.
Top features in addition to age verification:
- Flexible, mobile scanning solutions
- Banned Individual lists to alert you of repeat offenders
- Advanced reporting that syncs with your point of sale system
Pricing: IDScan.Net offers a variety of hardware options starting at $525.
5. Lightspeed
Best for: Enterprise businesses
Lightspeed Retail offers a powerful point of sale solution for multiple industries and use-cases. In addition to liquor stores and other retail shops, Lightspeed Retail offers point of sale solutions for restaurants, event spaces, golf courses, and more. Their payment interface offers strong age verification features that can help you avoid trouble with legal compliance during alcohol sales.
Top features in addition to age verification:
- Mobile pay and contactless payment options
- Simplified operational workflows
- Integrated discount and promotion options
Pricing: Lightspeed Retail’s standard package begins at $119 per month.
The Best Age Verification Software for Your Business
The five options listed in this post are all strong choices for age verification software for your liquor store. With the right solution in place, you should be able to run your store confidently, knowing you can easily comply with all the age restrictions in your state or locality for alcohol sales.
However, age verification is only one of the tools every liquor store needs from its point of sale system.
If you want to manage inventory, checkout, employee time clocking, e-commerce, and more — all in one platform built specifically for liquor stores — you’ll want to explore Bottle POS!
Schedule a free software demo of Bottle POS today to see how we can help you streamline operations and grow your store.
