Missouri Debuts Digital Age-Verification Tool for Retailers
Missouri has introduced a state-built app that lets businesses confirm customer ages by scanning driver’s licenses or entering birth dates. The tool warns employees when an ID appears questionable so they can inspect the physical card, and it provides administrators with usage reports. State officials say the app processes information only on the device and does not store or send personal data to the state.
Missouri’s new Show Me Your Age app was created by the Office of Administration’s Information Technology Services Division with the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control and the departments of Health and Senior Services and Revenue. It is intended for retailers, venues and public entities checking legal age for alcohol, tobacco and cannabis.
Staff may scan a driver’s license barcode or type a birth date. If a scan seems questionable, the app warns them to inspect the physical card. Administrators can see daily and monthly totals and outcomes such as successful checks, expired IDs, warnings or no result.
The app could ease age checks for retailers, venues and public entities, while giving regulators clearer usage data. Clerks may gain an extra prompt to inspect questionable IDs, potentially reducing underage sales or fraudulent use. Customers could see faster or more consistent verification, though those without scannable licenses may still need manual birth-date entry. Because processing stays on the device, privacy worries may be lower, but administrators’ reporting could still shape how compliance is monitored.