Biometric age verification will be implemented on vending machines this summer
The Central Bank of Technology (CBT) has announced that biometric age verification for the purchase of alcohol and nicotine-containing products will be launched in Russia in 2024, with the service initially being tested in "FitVend" machines and later rolled out to other organizations.
According to Vladislav Povolotsky, the CEO of the CBT, the service is a response to the ban on selling energy drinks to minors, which has been in effect since March. The implementation of the service is expected to take around 3-6 months and should not be too costly for the market.
The age-verification service will allow customers to pre-register their data in the unified biometric system (EBS) and submit their biometric data through the "Gosuslugi Biometria" app or at bank branches. The EBS is protected to the highest standards by the FSB and other services, according to Alexander Bleznekov, head of the information security department at "Telecom Bourse."
In addition to vending machines, the service will be available at self-service checkouts in retail networks, improving store efficiency and enhancing the customer experience. The service can be applied to any goods with age restrictions, according to Povolotsky.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has allowed the use of biometrics in alcohol sales, and the CBT and the apparatus of Dmitry Grigorenko have stated that biometrics are submitted voluntarily and are used only as an alternative payment or identity verification method.
One notable development is the emergence of vape vending machines equipped with biometric scanning for age verification. These machines not only verify age biometrically but also offer customizable product selections and large inventory, enhancing secure and automated retail experiences for age-restricted products.
Despite concerns about biometric data falling into the hands of fraudsters, Alexander Bleznekov noted that many Russians fear this, but the EBS is protected to the highest standards. Companies should not include the costs of implementing new technologies in the product price, according to Stanislav Bogdanov.
In January 2025, Povolotsky told TASS that the possibility of offline alcohol sales using biometrics is planned to be launched in 2025. Deputy Minister Roman Chekushev stated that using biometrics for alcohol sales can help prevent sales to individuals who are not legally allowed to purchase such goods.
The CBT reported that there have been no cases of biometric data leaks since the EBS was launched. This reflects a broader national push to expand biometric services to 20 million Russians, improving both verification reliability and customer experience in regulated sales. However, details on rollout pace in traditional retail networks beyond self-service points and vending machines are still emerging.
[1] Source: https://t.me/cbrtech/2514 [5] Source: https://t.me/cbrtech/2515
- The Central Bank of Technology (CBT) is planning to expand the use of biometrics in Russia, with data-and-cloud-computing technology playing a crucial role in the unified biometric system (EBS).
- In the finance industry, the implementation of biometric age verification systems for the purchase of age-restricted products like alcohol and nicotine is expected to increase security and efficiency in technology-driven retail, particularly in data-and-cloud-computing environments.
