Biometric age verification to become standard in Russian vending machines.
Russia is set to introduce biometric age verification for the sale of age-restricted products, such as energy drinks, alcohol, and tobacco, at self-service checkouts and vending machines starting in the second half of 2025.
This move is part of a broader initiative to automate and secure age verification processes in retail environments, with the aim of reducing underage sales. The system will use biometric data, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, to confirm that customers are over 18 years old before completing their purchase.
While the specific details about the deployment of the biometric age confirmation in vending machines are not fully disclosed, the mention of self-service checkouts suggests that a similar technology could be extended to vending machines, given the similar nature of unattended retail transactions. This rollout aligns with Russia’s broader digital biometric identity framework, which has been expanding in 2025.
Ak Bars Bank has been involved in the development of the solution for age-restricted product sales in vending machines. However, there is no mention of any involvement of "FitVend" in this biometric service. It is worth noting that "FitVend" derives a significant part of its profits from the sale of energy drinks.
Csaba Zentai, the general director of "FitVend", has made a statement about the sale of energy drinks in vending machines with age confirmation by biometrics. According to him, this new development will help ensure compliance and prevent sales to minors.
It is important to note that from March 1, 2025, it will be illegal to sell energy drinks to minors in vending machines. This new biometric service is not limited to energy drinks; it can be used for any age-restricted product.
In addition to vending machines, this biometric service can also be used on self-service checkouts. The specific details about how the biometric age confirmation works in these machines were not provided in the article.
This article does not mention any other changes or regulations regarding the sale of energy drinks outside of vending machines. The Unified Biometric System is the operator of the biometric service, and the general director of the Center for Biometric Technologies, Vladislav Povolotsky, has been informed about the plan. Dmitry Grigorenko's apparatus is involved in the implementation of biometrics for age-restricted product sales in retail networks.
In Russia, it is planned to launch offline alcohol sales by biometrics as well. This initiative is expected to further improve compliance and prevent sales of age-restricted products to minors.
- The biometric service, which includes smart-home devices and gadgets like fingerprint or facial recognition technology, could potentially be extended to self-service checkouts and vending machines for age-restricted product sales, such as energy drinks, alcohol, and tobacco.
- Csaba Zentai, the general director of "FitVend", sees the new biometric age confirmation system as a means to ensure compliance and prevent sales of energy drinks to minors, acknowledging its potential for any age-restricted product.
