ID scanners for bars and other businesses, such as casinos, which must ensure the age of anyone entering their establishment, are an absolute must. The most sophisticated of these scanners do more than just verify if a driver's license or state ID is legitimate. If someone is on a "do not enter" list, the scanner will alert the user to this as well.
Employees at businesses like bars, restaurants that serve liquor and casinos have stressful jobs. Security guards at casinos are tasked with ensuring that underage individuals do not enter the gambling areas. If several people try to enter the casino from the same door at the same time, long lines develop and everyone gets a little stressed. Guards who have to visually confirm the birthdate on a driver's license will soon develop eye strain.
The solution is an ID scanner. The driver's license or ID is simply run through the scanner, and the device's database immediately alerts the guard if the individual is of an appropriate age, or on a "do not enter" list, and so on.
ID scanners for bars are even more important. People who drink, drive and get into accidents are bad enough, but if the individual is under age, the bartender who served the drinks, and the bar itself, could be held liable for any injuries, not to stated fined. The business could even be closed down.
Using an ID scanner for bars is very quick and easy. It eliminates the need for a bartender to attempt to gauge the age of an individual by just looking at them – always an unreliable indicator. Also, because of the speed that an ID can be run through the scanner, it's possible to check the IDs of everyone who enters, so that there is no chance that someone would accuse the bar of staff of harassment. If everyone has to present an ID, then that problem is solved.
Employees love these devices because it makes them job very easy. They are already under stress – whether they are security guards, wait staff, or bartenders, because they have to deal with people from all walks of life all day long. Most people are pleasant, but there are always exceptions to this rule. When your job depends on being able to identify the ages of your patrons, there is that added little bit of stress. Take for example a night club, where the lighting is always kept low for the ambience. How is a bartender supposedly to see the tiny birth date on a tiny card in such low light? But by swiping the card through the scanner, they are immediately alerted if there is a problem. There is no need for guesswork.
The forging of driver's licenses and state IDs is big business these days. The main clients of these forgers are college students who just want to be able to drink even though they are not of age. So an ID scanner for bars is not something that is used to weed out criminals, but teens who are simply trying to beat the system.