https://techmonitor.ai/technology/ai-and-automation/ai-facial-estimation

The Home Office launched a trial this week that will see supermarkets across the UK implement AI facial estimation software to judge if a customer is old enough to buy alcohol. This new technological approach has been heralded by some as an innovative solution to preventing underage alcohol consumption, but the trial has also been criticised for trying to apply a simplistic technological solution to what is a complex social problem.

Fifteen companies have been provisionally approved for the trials, which will start in the coming weeks and run until next April. The testing will be focused on using facial estimation software to judge the age of the person buying alcohol, with their consent, to relieve the cashier of this time consuming and sometimes confrontational task. If the trial goes well the government may move to alter legislation that requires the presentation of conventional identification, such as a driving licence, to buy alcohol, expanding this to allow the acceptance of digital identification.