Owners and managers of bars understand their livelihood is their liquor license. Therefore, simply visually checking IDs and assuming employees don’t make mistakes is risky behavior. Best practices include tapping into resources such as staff/server training and tools such as an ID scanner for bars for age verification so staff and management can easily know who their patrons are – their age and ID expiration status.
A comprehensive ID checking policy can ensure a bar stay in business and liability exposure is limited so profitability can be achieved. Yet many bars and businesses serving age-sensitive products take their chances and wait for their first, second, or even third fine to act proactively. Rather than preemptively implementing an ID-checking policy, many are too busy putting out the fires and paying out fines or fighting civil or criminal charges.
An important tool that eliminates ID-checking errors and underage sales is one that’s been around for a while. An ID scanner of bars, which was once considered a luxury, is now an essential tool to identify, verify, and document a customer’s age and expiration status.
At the end of the day, spending time on building the business rather than putting out the fires is management’s job, and best practices for ID checking should be developed and implemented.
The Benefits of ID Scanners for Bars
Some of the important ways in which ID scanners in bars can prove beneficial for owners, managers, and patrons alike have been listed below.
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Eliminate Human Error:
Human error is unavoidable in the manual ID-checking process. It’s just a matter of when the error will happen. Even the best employees make mistakes especially when they’re required to multi-task.
To eliminate these costly errors, bar owners can prevent hefty fines and expensive lawsuits by investing in an ID scanner. Instantly verify the patron’s age, name, and expiration status without error and document the transaction as proof of due diligence. It doesn’t mean that the ID scanner for bars can replace human judgment, but it will give the user all the information to make an informed decision. Employees can work smarter now that an ID scanner can help weed out expired, altered, and potentially fake IDs.
Keep in mind that the best return on investment is usually the simple ID scanner that offers better value and functionality. Age and ID verification without too many bells and whistles keeps the process simple for the employee, the transaction, and the amount of ID data retained. With growing concerns over privacy, mining and storing too much ID data can potentially carry its own risk for securing sensitive ID data. Many states are getting tough on protecting consumer privacy.
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Minimize Liability:
In this litigious age, all businesses especially bar owners have to consider worst-case scenarios and how to prevent them. The risk of serving a minor, the consequences of that action, and determining whether the owner and server used reasonable care are elements that can lead bar owners down a perilous path.
In a perfect storm, these legal questions become relevant as civil or even criminal citations can be charged. ID scanners are by no means the panacea or cure-all for these risks. However, having this tool in their tool belt will work in the bar owner’s favor. Simply having an ID scanner available to employees is a statement that the owners are using care and not operating negligently.
Moreover, an ID scanner for bars can keep an accurate record of all transactions that occurred during a particular period of time or specific incident. This can serve as evidence during a lawsuit. It can prove the bar’s due diligence and what ID was presented, not what the minor is claiming they presented. This storage of data for compliance reporting and due diligence proof can protect an establishment from various types of legal blowback.
Keep in mind certain privacy laws in your state and its own legal risk of retaining too much information securely.
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Improve Efficiency:
Manual ID checking can be time-consuming and requires undivided attention. The date of birth needs to be read correctly and then compared and calculated to the current date.
It’s no wonder this process is ridden with errors and inefficient. Even the best employee who is multi-tasking, preoccupied, or working a frantic rush hour can make errors in checking IDs. This is why most bars and clubs are not taking any chances and opting for an easy-to-use ID scanner. It is a valuable tool that allows bars to check IDs seamlessly allowing staff to work faster, and better, and eliminate human error.
For the bar owner, a more efficient system of ID verification would mean improved work productivity for their staff and happier patrons. The use of ID scanners would mean shorter queues, minimal wait times, and greater efficiency overall. Employees will have more time to attend to the patrons instead of spending that time checking ID cards and driver’s licenses.
In Conclusion
There are many ways in which ID scanners for bars are beneficial for both patrons and bar owners alike. It’s a necessary technology that allows bars to spend time generating revenue – not putting out the fires by paying penalties and going to court.
A comprehensive ID checking policy including an ID scanner means bars will protect their liquor license and stay in business by eliminating the human error factor, streamlining and creating work efficiency, and reducing liability exposure.
Remember that an ID scanner is a tool and not a license for the employee to fall asleep on the job. Employees still need to use their judgment for any suspicious individuals or IDs.
Some tips: For the best return on investment, consider the ID scanner provider and their reputation so you can trust that they will be around to service your product/investment. Also, lowball introductory offers may look appealing, but too often end up costing much more in the long run so read the fine print. Last, check with your state and local laws for privacy and ID data retention.
