The 7-Eleven corporation took a new approach against illegal underage sales of products like alcohol, tobacco, and lottery tickets with a new identification card scanning system.
Starting in May, 7-Eleven convenient stores across the Central Florida area will have an advanced new technology that will scan the 2-D code on the back of a consumer's driver license or respective ID card when age-restricted products are being purchased, said the company in a press release on Thursday.
7-Eleven, Inc. approached the new method of stomping the illegal sales of age-restricted products to minors as a means to "enhance its social and corporate responsibility," said the organization. The scan is set up to verify the birth date on the ID card; 7-Eleven emphasized that no other information about the customers from the personal identification cards would be stored via the scanning.
"Illegal sales of age-restricted items to minors are a serious concern for Central Florida," Keith Jones, 7-Eleven's senior director of government affairs, was quoted as saying in the press release. "Over the last 15 years laws have been enacted and enforced to restrict the sale of alcohol, tobacco and potential inhalants to minors. Although making an illegal under-age purchase is harder than ever, there is still work to be done and preventative measures to be taken."
This is not the first direct method of stopping illegal underage purchases. In 1984, according to 7-Eleven, the company created a "Come of Age" program, where training and awareness was offered to make the illegal sales of alcohol, initially, to minors, after-hours sales, and "sales made on behalf of a minor and consuming alcohol on store premises." More age-restricted products, like tobacco, lottery tickets, and potential inhalants, said the press release, were included as part of the "Come of Age" 1994 expansion.
"7-Eleven responded to the needs of its franchisees," franchise owner Iris Yost was recorded in the press release as saying. "We are passionate about not selling age-restricted items to minors. Because laws often place the burden on the store operator, franchisee or selling cashier, we need every protection available. The ID Scan technology we now have will go a long way in stemming wrongful age-restricted sales."
The scanning technology push has only been confirmed for franchises and branches of 7-Eleven in Central Florida; no word yet has been received on if and when the overall 9,200 stores across North America will receive the same security treatment.
