Mr. Hosaka, State Minister for Digital Transformation, inspected the "Self-Checkout Age Verification Demonstration Using a Smartphone Equipped with a My Number Card Function"
- Published:
A demonstration was given on the use of a smartphone with a My Number Card function for age verification when alcohol and tobacco are sold at self-checkout counters at staffed retail stores.
Background and Objectives
In June 2023, Digital Agency and the Franchise Association of Japan signed an agreement on the use of My Number Card in convenience stores. The agreement aims to promote the use of Digital Agency and to create services that make use of My Number Card that can be provided to users safely and securely. Under the agreement, My Number Card and the Franchise Association of Japan will work together to jointly consider the expansion of various services related to the use of My Number Card in convenience stores.
This demonstration is to verify the possibility of using the four basic information possessed by My Number Card (name, date of birth, address, gender, My Number, and face photo) on a smartphone for age verification when selling alcohol and tobacco at self-checkout counters at retail stores.
Demonstration Overview
In this demonstration, with the cooperation of the Japan Franchise Association and member retailers, we used a smartphone with a My Number Card function to purchase licensed goods (alcohol and tobacco) at a self-checkout counter and verified the entire process from age verification to payment.
All smartphone apps and POS systems used will be experimental for this demonstration.
What to Verify
- The flow of age confirmation at self-checkout counters when selling alcohol and cigarettes will be verified in an experimental environment.
- We will verify whether users can use it without hesitation.
- We will examine whether retail business operators will be able to save manpower. (Currently, self-checkout is required to call a clerk)
In response to an interview with a reporter after the inspection, Mr. Hosaka, State Minister for Digital Transformation, said, "When I actually experienced it, I frankly felt that it was easy. I was able to reach the settlement without any discomfort, such as operating a smartphone or a POS cash register. Currently, if you want to buy alcohol or tobacco products subject to age verification, you need to call a clerk or go to a manned cash register, but if you can buy them with these functions, I feel that it is a beneficial initiative in that it will reduce the number of workers at stores and allow users to buy them quickly. My Number Card's smartphone installation is an initiative with various possibilities in all industries and I believe it will have a significant social impact, so based on this result, we will continue to cooperate with the Japan Franchise Association and further deepen our consideration in terms of systems and technology for social implementation."
