Missouri has launched a state-built application that lets businesses check a customer’s age by scanning a driver’s license, as part of an effort to curb underage sales of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis. The tool, called Show Me Your Age, was announced on October 14 by the Information Technology Services Division of the Missouri Office of Administration.
The division developed the application, also known as the Age Verification Application, with the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, the Department of Health and Senior Services and the Department of Revenue. Retailers, venues and public entities can use it to confirm a patron’s age by scanning a valid driver’s license or manually entering a date of birth.
State lawmakers have also considered other approaches to age checks for alcohol sales. In 2024, the Missouri House passed a bill allowing biometric age verification through facial, palm or iris scans for customers who had first had a government-issued ID verified by a biometric vendor.
When a barcode scan flags irregularities that indicate an invalid or potentially fraudulent license, the system generates a caution flag. The alert prompts staff to physically inspect the identification card before completing the sale.
The application also includes reporting features. Administrators can track total scans, daily and monthly volume, successful verifications, scans of expired identification, caution alerts and scan failures.
According to the application’s disclaimer, it processes identification information only on the user’s device and does not store, transmit or retain personal information. No scanned or captured data is sent to the State of Missouri.
The state describes the application strictly as a supplementary tool for businesses selling intoxicating liquor, tobacco, alternative nicotine, vapor or cannabis products. The disclaimer warns that it may not always provide accurate or complete information and may fail to detect fraudulent, altered or invalid identification documents.
Businesses remain responsible for verifying age and identity through lawful means, including physical inspection of a valid government-issued identification document, and for complying with statutory requirements for age-restricted sales. The disclaimer also states that the application is not a replacement for other reasonable steps needed to determine a customer’s age.
Businesses and members of the public can access Show Me Your Age through the Department of Revenue’s website.
Sources: Missouri Office of Administration, Missouri Department of Revenue, GovTech
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
