Thruhike98 tried to buy some wine at Target a couple of weekends ago, and they were surprised at how invasive the ID check turned out to be:
My wife showed the cashier her license, which was behind a clear window in her wallet. He said, “No, please hand it to me.” We both assumed he just wanted a closer look. Once he had it, he immediately picked up a barcode scanner and scanned the back of her drivers license. I asked him what that was all about, as I had never seen anyone do that before. Almost bragging that Target now knows, for example, exactly where we live, he explained that the scan “gets all the information off of the license.”
Thruhike98 wants to know why Target needs all of this data, and so do we. As he points out in his blog post, it’s possible that by scanning the card they’re creating verifiable evidence that they performed the required ID check—but in the meantime, the customer has just inadvertently given up all of his license data to a faceless corporation. (One that won’t even respond to Thruhike98′s email asking them about the practice.)
We’d like to know whether Target retains all of the data they scan off the license, and if so, why?
“Target Must Record My Organ Donor Status to Sell Me Wine?” [Thruhike98]
(Illustration: Getty)
[tijil.org]
I worked in a convenience store years ago and this was standard procedure for tobacco/liquor purchases.
They do not record any of your information…. The scanning of the license makes it easy for the cashier to determine whether or not you are over the age of 21… In other words the register will sort the data determine you are of age and leave the cashier to continue in his or her own mundane bliss… They don’t even need to struggle to find the location of the date of birth any longer. The scanners were originally implemented for the new Pseudoephedrine purchasing restrictions… In which we do actually collect all of the data on your license, which subsequent to the scan is clearly printed on our screen for verification. The only thing shocking about this story is that this guest is still under some delusion allowing him the nothing he actually has a shred of privacy left.
@Evil J: hahaha, I heart you.
I hope what happens in N.Portland never makes its way up to Forest Grove, then! I hate it when people or organizations bring predjudice into situations, making it that much harder to do your job or follow the rules.@varro:
I am a cashier at Target:
I am almost certain scanning your license does NOT save any information on our database; it simply confirms that the license is real, and checks that you are of age to buy alcohol (and certain drugs as well)
Additionally, just a week or two ago, Target changed its policy regarding IDs – it used to be that we only had to ID people who looked under the age of 35. If they were obviously older, we could bypass the prompt to check ID. However, we now have to ID every single time we are prompted, and we have no way to bypass the prompt.
However, most important, as far as I see, is that we do not have to scan the ID. We can also just look at the ID and enter your birthdate into the computer. Tell the cashier to do that, if you are not comfortable with us scanning the ID.
@Jubilance22:
Oh man, they might get your address and your name!
Watchout, ya know because that can’t be looked up using my phone number or name!
Fucking people and their privacy paranoia, Bars do this frequently to verify that the barcode and front both check out, its to protect themselves. Besides i’m sure they could do much more with your CC number than your drivers license.
I never allow my license to be scanned. Stores can say they don’t do anything with that data all they want, but who knows what really happens to it?
I also don’t show my ID for anything that isn’t legally required. That includes things like paint and video games. To me, a store (morally-speaking) doesn’t have the right to see that kind of information unless absolutely required by law, and they certainly don’t need to store it in any way.
They do this at the Countrywide (wink) Arena I work part time at, to verify 21.
You know what I think is funny? People that still think they have some kind of privacy. It’s a hoot! Almost as much of a laugh is the ‘I’ll pay cash, and be off the grid” people that post in a public forum via the internet.
You do know that the Pentavirate is storing the ISP info for when they start taxing teh interwebs, right?
You guys don’t get this already? I live in Bakersfield, CA and EVERY SINGLE TIME I buy something requiring to show ID they scan it. Not just Target, everywhere. Grocery stores, gas stations, bars, whatever. And yes, as one of the first posters said, it is to check against the actual state database. This way they don’t have to worry about manually checking to see if its a false id. If it doesn’t ring up, they call the police.
@Jesse: A service portal at the DMV that just returns “true” or “false” to indicate whether the license is valid would probably be considered a legitimate use of DMV data. Also, this would only work on licenses that are new enough to have a bar code or strip to scan.
They scan my ID with the credit card machine when I buy alcohol at the liquor store. One time I was curious and leaned over to look at the display – it just said my full name on the first line, and my age on the second line. Nothing sinister. Some people are just paranoid.
In Pennsylvania, all of the information is located on the magnetic strip. Bars here that have scanners have a sign posted near the entry that say something to the effect of “by consenting to a license scan, you may be added to our mailing list for marketing purposes.” Some of the bars send postcards out on your birthday – but they wouldn’t know all of that information unless they took it from your license. Same situation as the marlboro reps @Evil J mentioned.
And the liquor stores are state-owned – when THEY scan your license, along with the liquor, they are pulling all of your personal info + whatever you bought.
Some bars started doing this in Canada so in theory they could know who was present if something bad happened. After a complaint the the Alberta Privacy Commissioner, that practice was squashed. Does the US have something like a Privacy Commissioner?
@ChrisNF: “Some bars started doing this in Canada so in theory they could know who was present if something bad happened. After a complaint the the Alberta Privacy Commissioner, that practice was squashed. Does the US have something like a Privacy Commissioner?”
HAHAHAHAHAhaahahahahahhahahahahha…
Sorry.
No we don’t.
here we go with the paranoia over “personal information”–the company will not sell anyone’s address or organ donor info to another company! It is used to scan your date of birth instead of having your cashier invert the numbers and then typing in the wrong date-therefore preventing the consumer from not being able to buy alcohol. Anyone who thinks differently is assuming the worst from this company.
Target will scan your license for any credit card purchase, not just alcohol. If I’m buying a shirt or silverware they should be able to just look at the name to mach with the credit card not swipe ALL my info for a mundane purchase.
I was annoyed when Target scanned my license for an “age restricted DVD”, but last week I was shopping for the nonprofit I work for, and they scanned the license b/c I was buying tax exempt. The receipt had my name, DOB, full personal address and license number printed on the top of the receipt that they keep and show to the state if they get audited. All this info was on the screen as well and I am sure it is saved for the same reason. However, it’s not cool having my personal info connected to a tax exempt purchase as I am not personally a tax exempt entity. To use tax exempt stuff for personal use is fraud. I’m sure if anyone came knocking, I could get it straightened out, but should I even have to consider that possibility? No. If Target wants to vet my nonprofit and give me a card so they can document what organization/employee bought stuff, fine.
They’re saving scan info in this instance, what makes it so hard to save it for all instances? If the checkout aisle at Target was a website, they’d have to have a privacy policy. Why can’t they issue a statement simply explaining how/when/why/what and who has access to it??
Same thing happened to me at Target in FL today – will NEVER buy a bottle of beer or wine there again and will reduce my purchases there as much as possible. This is NOT for verifying age, certainly not in my case. I am 50 and do NOT look like I am 20. Cashier asked to SEE my ID, not to SWIPE my card and STEAL my information. I was surprised/not paying attention so I let the person see my driver’s license – took it out of my hand and swiped it before I could react. This will NOT happen again. Need to file a complaint now wherever I can.