AGE VERIFICATION

Automated age verification modules for professional applications

Operating principle and application fields

Automated age verification solutions make the sale of age-restricted products – such as tobacco, alcoholic drinks or other regulated goods – safer and more transparent. The devices use data from national ID cards, driving licences or other official documents to determine whether the customer has reached the legally required age. Modules like the DCM5 family analyse the date of birth stored in the machine-readable zone and return an allow or deny signal to the host controller, without storing any personal data. This helps operators meet GDPR requirements while still enforcing legal rules at the vending machine or access point. These solutions are ideal for food and beverage vending machines, ticketing kiosks, tobacco and beverage machines, as well as access control and entry systems that require automated and auditable age verification.

Concrete products, interfaces and manufacturers

The key product in this category is the ICT DCM5 document reader and age verification module, which connects directly to vending controllers via the MDB interface. The ICT DCM5 MDB/RS232/PULSE variant supports multiple communication options, making it suitable not only for classic vending machines but also for custom kiosks and access control installations. Versions equipped with an external reader are housed in robust, weatherproof metal enclosures, and are therefore well suited for outdoor vending and service machines. Across Europe, many solution providers offer DCM5-based age verification kits that integrate with vending machines from various manufacturers, while the Hungarian market is served by KIOSK.NOVOPARTS as the official ICT representative.

Frequently used configurations include the basic ICT DCM5 age verification unit with MDB, the ICT DCM5 MDB/RS232/PULSE module, DCM5 kits with external readers for outdoor use and complete age verification packages that ship with cabling, brackets and accessories. These compatible modules and kits allow integrators to build consistent hardware and software architectures and simplify long-term maintenance and support.

Quality, service, operating conditions and financing

Because age verification modules are directly linked to legal compliance and consumer protection, build quality and service support are critical. Devices are designed for intensive 24/7 use, handling a wide range of European ID and driving licence formats while maintaining high reading accuracy. Successful projects rely not only on suitable hardware but also on well-planned logistics and financing models that reflect the scale and complexity of deployment.

• availability of local technical support during integration, testing and commissioning stages;
• preventive maintenance plans including regular cleaning of optical windows, slots and connectors;
• compliance with specified environmental conditions – temperature, humidity, supply voltage and protection – for indoor and outdoor machines;
• stock management and scheduled deliveries to support large roll-outs, upgrades and replacement units;
• flexible shipping options, customs handling and logistics services for national and international projects;
• post-payment terms, invoicing in foreign currencies and banking support for multi-site deployments involving dozens or hundreds of machines;
• project-specific quotations that can bundle ICT DCM5 modules with card readers, printers and complete kiosk solutions.

FAQ – Age verification devices for vending machines

• Question: How do industrial age verification modules differ from simple card readers?
     Answer: Industrial modules are purpose-built for age checks, meet legal requirements, support multiple national ID formats, do not store personal data and are optimised for high-traffic 24/7 operation with robust electronics and mechanics.
• Question: What should you look at when selecting an age verification solution for a new project?
     Answer: Key aspects include the range of supported documents, available interfaces such as MDB/RS232/PULSE, mechanical space, legal and GDPR compliance, availability of SDKs and documentation, and the strength of local service and spare part support.
• Question: How can the DCM5 be integrated into an existing vending machine?
     Answer: If the vending controller can flag age-restricted products or shelves, the ICT DCM5 is simply connected to the MDB bus. After adjusting the configuration menus, the system will automatically allow purchases only for customers who meet the age requirement.
• Question: Which extra capabilities do industrial age verification devices offer compared with non-industrial solutions?
     Answer: Typical extras include support for several interfaces (MDB/RS232/PULSE), handling of multiple national ID formats, advanced self-diagnostics and event logging, and the ability to perform age checks without storing personal data, helping operators to comply with GDPR.