New York State Launches Mobile Digital ID System for Age Verification at Bars and Restaurants

New York State has enabled mobile digital IDs (MiD) as an approved form of age verification in bars and restaurants, following guidance issued by the New York State Liquor Authority on October 30, 2024. The initiative, developed by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), was demonstrated at Common Roots Brewing Company in Albany.

The system allows customers to present their identification through a smartphone app rather than physical documents. When verification is needed, users open their passcode-protected MiD app and generate a QR code. Businesses can scan this code using a smartphone or tablet, receiving verification through an encrypted Bluetooth connection that requires no internet access or physical handoff of devices. This approach mirrors successful implementations in other states and is consistent with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators’ Digital Trust Service standards.

DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder states, “The Mobile ID is as equally beneficial to users as it is to the businesses that accept it,” adding, “It offers businesses a huge leg up in the fight against identity theft and gives those verifying a patron’s age greater reassurance that they are not accepting a fake ID.”

The implementation remains optional for New York’s 59,000 liquor license holders. “While use and acceptance of MiD remains optional for our 59,000 licensee businesses,” said SLA Chair Lily M. Fan, “we congratulate our partners at the DMV for successfully bringing this updated form of personal identification to the Empire State.”

Scott Wexler, Executive Director of the Empire State Restaurant & Tavern Association, emphasized that the system streamlines verification processes: “This secure and convenient solution simplifies verifying customer identities and ages for age-restricted industries like ours. The advanced security features make it harder for fake IDs to slip through, and their efficiency allows staff to quickly verify a customer’s information without fumbling through manual checks.”

The Mobile ID system employs encrypted key signatures to verify authenticity, confirming the ID was issued by the New York State DMV. This security approach is part of a broader national trend, as similar age verification systems are being developed internationally, including in the United Kingdom’s planned 2025 rollout for alcohol sales.

Available at no cost, MiD is optional for New Yorkers who possess a valid Driver License, Learner Permit, or Non-Driver ID. The system has been designed with privacy considerations, as the state cannot track or retrieve information about where individuals use their Mobile ID. The privacy-first approach follows established best practices in digital identity management and reflects growing concerns about data protection in digital ID systems.

Sources: DMV NY, The Travel

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December 10, 2024 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team