Arizonans Unlock New Convenience: Use Your Smartphone as ID for Alcohol Buys

Arizonans can now use a new smartphone app as identification for purchasing alcohol at select bars and retailers within the state.

This state-endorsed app ensures an additional layer of security by not displaying sensitive information like address or date of birth. However, the exact number of establishments equipped to use it remains unknown.

Named the Smart ID Verifier, the app emerged from a collaboration between the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division and the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control. The app showcases only a customer’s photo and the words “Over 21,” omitting crucial details usually found on a driver’s license.

“The app is designed to be a more secure and private method for presenting identification,” said ADOT MVD Director Eric Jorgensen in a news release.

For the system to function, two smart devices are needed: one held by the customer and another by the employee verifying the ID. Upon scanning the customer’s device, the employee’s device displays a green check mark if the verification succeeds. The app works on both Google and Apple platforms, though it’s restricted to iPhones running iOS 17.0 or later.

Businesses interested in participating can independently download the app, so no official list of participating venues exists, according to Arizona DLLC spokesperson Filbert Barrea.

Barrea mentioned that the app could help create logs of customers served, useful for DLLC investigations into any bar or liquor store activities.

“Bars with liquor licenses are required to show evidence of checking identification,” Barrera explained. “If we receive frequent complaints about underage drinking or over-serving, the digital log can help verify that IDs are being checked properly.”

Consumers benefit from enhanced protection during transactions since their personal information remains concealed, Barrera added.

The digital logs transmitted to the DLLC are encrypted, ensuring that establishments cannot access customers’ personal data.

“Anytime you have a transaction, there’s a risk of information being misused or stolen,” Barrera noted.