Facial recognition technology prevents alcohol sales to minors

You may soon be sold alcoholic drinks by a smart vending machine that uses facial recognition technology.

Businesses in Germany and the US are already selling alcohol using "facial age estimation".

Biometric Update reports that Diebold Nixdorf algorithms in Germany and IDScan.net technology in the US are two such examples that are being monitored using AI.

German store Dorfladen Freckenfeld, which is sometimes unmanned, sells alcohol using facial age estimation from Diebold Nixdorf Smart Vision biometric facial age estimation technology, ensuring alcohol is not sold to minors. 

Diebold Nixdorf vice-president of retail technology solutions Matt Redwood said: “The village store in Freckenfeld is a successful example of how modern store technology with self-service checkouts can help to ensure that local supplies, which are urgently needed in rural areas in particular, are available around the clock.”

Redwood added: “The automatic, AI-based age verification solution also enables a faster checkout process. This pleases customers and allows employees to concentrate on their core tasks.”

Then there is 614NOW, a beer vending machine that has been launched in Columbus, Ohio, by craft brewer Land-Grant and local partner VenGuard.

The vending machine reportedly uses face biometrics for age verification by comparing a photo to the image on a scanned ID card. The system is also trained to recognise fake IDs after training an algorithm with fakes collected from local bars.

Meet the drink vending machine that offers more choice - and helps the environment

Ever wished you could craft your own drink - and help save the planet from single-use plastic bottles?

Meet Refilled, a Sydney-based start-up that hopes to eventually end the sale of beverages sold in single-use plastic bottles in vending machines.

Starting at sites including Google HQ Sydney, UTS and the University of Sydney, its Refillers are plastic-free vending machine that can be used by anyone with a reusable bottle.

The company hopes to install 100 units around Australia by 2024, aiming to capitalise on the trend of reusable bottles and by giving people more flavour variety and nutritional options than just plain water on tap.

The Refillers are described as "a cross between a fridge and a giant soda stream" and offer chilled still and sparkling drinks in a range of flavours with the ability to add optional boosters such as caffeine, vitamins, and nootropics.

The founders say over 891 billion single-use plastic bottles are produced worldwide every year and fewer than 20% are ever recycled, which makes vending machines a major source of plastic pollution.

A single Refiller can stock 10x more beverages than a typical vending machine so it can also reduce waste and delivery emissions.

Refilled is tracking the number of bottles is has saved in real time, and has created reusable bottles with QR codes that can be scanned at the Refiller and used to pay for drinks – no card, phone or cash required.

To date, Refilled has raised $600k through angel investors and Melt Ventures, an impact VC Fund. It is seeking an additional $1.5 million in its next funding round.

“Refilled is transforming the ordinary, everyday act of drinking water into climate action," says co-founder and CEO Ryan Nelson.

"Most people have good intentions and want to do good for the planet, but not everyone can afford to buy an electric vehicle or install solar panels.

"Armed with just a reusable bottle and a couple of bucks, our Refillers offer an affordable, achievable way to eliminate plastic pollution. If we can replace even a fraction of drinks vending machines, which are an outrageous source of plastic waste, we will stop millions of plastic bottles going to landfill.”

For more info see https://www.refilled.com.au/