Tech Log

For small restaurant and bar owners, customers are both a source of income and a serious liability. After all, the fines for knowingly serving alcohol to a minor can add up to thousands of dollars when you factor in other costs like legal fees and lost revenue. And, remember, simply accepting a non-valid form identification, like a fake ID, constitutes a liquor license violation. So how can business owners get around this challenge?These days, more and more small business owners are relying on inexpensive, and high tech, driver license scanners to help sort out legitimate customers from underage drinkers. It may not sound like a big deal to someone who doesn’t own a bar, but just a couple liquor license violations can take an entire business under. A driver license scanner at the front entry of an establishment sends a message to underage drinkers and other hucksters that their hijinks will not be tolerated.

An ID scanner usually utilizes a magnetic strip reader or flatbed scanner to evaluate the authenticity of a particular ID card. Entry level models look for markers on the magnetic stip, while more elaborate models link up with public records databases to ensure authenticity.

These devices provide plenty of peace of mind in an otherwise very stressful business.