Every Business That Needs Age Verification: The Complete Industry List

Age verification goes far beyond liquor stores and smoke shops. Depending on what they sell or offer, businesses across retail, hospitality, entertainment, and online commerce may need to confirm a customer’s age before completing a sale or providing access.

Below is a comprehensive look at the types of businesses where age verification can come into play. Requirements vary by product, service, and location, so businesses should always check the rules that apply to their specific operations.

Alcohol

If a business sells or serves alcohol, checking a customer’s age is usually part of the job. That includes everything from neighborhood liquor stores to restaurants, hotels, event venues, and delivery services.

Liquor Stores

Liquor stores sell age-restricted products every day, making age checks a routine part of the checkout process.

Wine Shops and Wine Bars

Wine retailers and wine bars may verify age when selling bottles to take home or serving wine on-site.

Beer and Craft Beer Specialty Stores

Specialty beer shops need to make sure customers meet the applicable minimum age before purchasing beer.

Bars and Nightclubs

Bars and nightclubs commonly check IDs at the door, before serving alcohol, or both.

Restaurants With Alcohol Service

Restaurants typically check age when serving alcohol with a meal or fulfilling an alcohol delivery order.

Breweries and Taprooms

Breweries and taprooms may check age before serving beer or selling packaged products to take home.

Wineries and Tasting Rooms

Wineries and tasting rooms typically verify age before offering tastings or selling alcoholic beverages.

Distilleries with On-Site Tasting

Distilleries may verify age before serving samples or selling spirits directly to visitors.

Grocery Stores with Alcohol Sections

Grocery stores that sell beer, wine, or spirits typically include an age check at checkout.

Convenience Stores Selling Alcohol

Convenience stores often sell alcohol alongside everyday essentials, making age verification part of the checkout experience.

Gas Stations Selling Alcohol

Gas stations that sell alcohol need to confirm customers meet the applicable age requirements before completing a sale.

Duty-Free Shops

Duty-free shops at airports and border crossings may verify age when selling alcohol and other age-restricted products.

Alcohol Delivery Services and Apps

Alcohol delivery businesses may verify age during checkout, at delivery, or at multiple points in the process.

Caterers with Alcohol Service

Caterers serving alcohol at weddings, parties, and other events need a way to confirm customers meet applicable age requirements.

Wedding and Event Venues

Venues that serve alcohol may use age verification to help control who can purchase or access alcoholic beverages.

Golf Courses and Country Club Clubhouses

Golf clubs and country clubs may verify age when serving alcohol in clubhouses, restaurants, and other on-site areas.

Hotel Bars and Minibars

Hotels may check age when selling alcohol through bars, restaurants, room service, or minibars.

Cruise Ships

Cruise operators may verify age before serving or selling alcohol onboard.

Airlines

Airlines that serve alcohol typically confirm a passenger’s age before providing alcoholic beverages.

Sports Arenas and Stadium Concessions

Sports venues may verify age when customers purchase alcohol at concessions, bars, or premium seating areas.

Tobacco, Nicotine & Vaping

Tobacco and nicotine products are some of the most familiar age-restricted products, so age checks are a regular part of business for retailers in this space.

Tobacco Shops

Tobacco retailers need to confirm customers meet the applicable minimum age before completing restricted sales.

Cigar Shops and Cigar Lounges

Cigar businesses may verify age before selling tobacco products or allowing customers into age-restricted areas.

Smoke Shops and Head Shops

Smoke shops often carry several age-restricted products, making age verification a key part of checkout.

Vape Shops and E-Cigarette Retailers

Vape retailers may verify age before selling e-cigarettes, e-liquids, and other nicotine products.

Hookah Lounges

Hookah lounges may check age before allowing customers to purchase or use tobacco or nicotine products.

Convenience Stores

Convenience stores often sell a mix of age-restricted and everyday products, making it important to quickly distinguish customers who are eligible to purchase restricted items.

From tobacco and alcohol to other age-restricted products, convenience stores need a quick way to check customer age without slowing down checkout. FTx Identity lets customers verify their age from their smartphone while helping stores detect fake IDs. See how FTx Identity works for convenience stores.

Gas Stations

Gas stations that sell tobacco or nicotine products may verify age before completing a sale.

Grocery Stores

Grocery stores with tobacco sections typically verify age when customers purchase restricted products.

Pharmacies Selling Tobacco Products

Where permitted, pharmacies selling tobacco products check that customers meet the applicable age requirement.

Nicotine Pouch Retailers

Retailers selling nicotine pouches may verify age before completing a purchase.

Pipe Tobacco Specialty Shops

Pipe tobacco retailers may check age before selling tobacco products.

Snuff and Dipping Tobacco Retailers

Retailers selling smokeless tobacco products typically check age at the point of sale.

Pipe and Cigar Accessory Stores

Businesses that also sell age-restricted tobacco products typically check age before completing those sales.

Tobacco Vending Machine Operators

Vending machine operators can use age controls to prevent underage customers from purchasing tobacco products.

Online Tobacco and Vape Retailers

Online tobacco and vape retailers use age verification to help confirm customers meet applicable age requirements before completing a purchase.

Cannabis

Cannabis businesses operate under state-specific licensing and regulatory rules, including requirements around who can purchase cannabis and how sales can take place.

Licensed dispensaries can operate physical storefronts and, in some states, offer online ordering for in-store pickup or local delivery.

Recreational Cannabis Dispensaries

Licensed recreational dispensaries typically verify that customers meet applicable age requirements before completing a purchase.

Medical Cannabis Dispensaries

Medical cannabis dispensaries typically verify age and other eligibility requirements based on applicable state rules before completing a transaction.

Cannabis Delivery Services

Where permitted, licensed cannabis retailers can offer local delivery with age and identity verification at delivery.

Cannabis Lounges and Consumption Lounges

Where permitted, cannabis lounges may require age verification before allowing customers to enter or consume cannabis on-site.

Cannabis-Infused Edible Specialty Retailers

Licensed retailers selling cannabis-infused products verify customer eligibility before completing a purchase.

CBD and Hemp Product Retailers

CBD and hemp-derived products are subject to different rules than state-licensed cannabis, and requirements can vary based on the product and jurisdiction.

Delta-8, Delta-9, and Hemp-Derived Cannabinoid Retailers

Hemp-derived cannabinoid products are subject to an evolving regulatory landscape, with requirements varying based on the product and jurisdiction.

Cannabis Vending Machines

Where permitted, cannabis vending machines may use age and identity verification before allowing a purchase.

Online Cannabis Platforms and Delivery Apps

Some states allow licensed cannabis retailers to accept online orders for in-store pickup or local delivery. However, cannabis can’t generally be treated like a traditional ecommerce product and shipped across state lines

Gambling & Gaming

Gambling and gaming businesses routinely deal with age restrictions, although the minimum age and requirements can vary by activity and location.

Land-Based and Tribal Casinos

Casinos typically verify age before allowing customers to enter or participate in gaming.

Lottery Retailers

Lottery retailers, including convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores, commonly verify age before selling restricted lottery products.

Lottery Ticket Vending Machines

Lottery vending machines may use age verification or other controls to prevent underage purchases.

Sports Betting Kiosks and Retail Locations

Retail sportsbooks and betting kiosks may verify age before allowing customers to place wagers.

Off-Track Betting (OTB) Establishments

OTB locations generally check age before customers can participate in wagering.

Horse Racing Venues and Racetracks

Racetracks may verify age before allowing customers to place bets or access certain areas.

Dog Racing Venues

Where permitted, dog racing venues may verify age before allowing customers to participate in wagering.

Bingo Halls and Charitable Bingo Operators

Bingo operators follow age requirements that vary by local gaming rules.

Card Rooms and Poker Rooms

Poker rooms and other gaming establishments commonly verify age before allowing customers to participate.

Pull-Tab and Charitable Gaming Ticket Retailers

Retailers selling regulated charitable gaming products typically check age before completing a sale.

Video Poker and Gaming Terminals

Bars, truck stops, and other businesses with regulated gaming terminals may use age controls before customers can play.

Online Gambling, Sports Betting, and Fantasy Sports Platforms

Online gambling operators commonly verify age and identity before allowing customers to wager or participate.

Skill-Based Gaming Arcades

Some regulated gaming arcades may impose age restrictions based on the games they offer and local rules.

Adult Entertainment

Businesses offering adult-oriented products, content, or entertainment generally restrict access to customers who meet the applicable minimum age.

Adult Novelty and Toy Stores

Adult retailers may verify age before allowing customers to purchase age-restricted products.

Adult Bookstores

Adult bookstores may use age verification to restrict access to age-restricted products or areas.

Strip Clubs and Adult Entertainment Venues

Adult entertainment venues commonly verify age before allowing customers to enter.

Peep Show Establishments

Peep show businesses may require age verification before customers can enter or access restricted content.

Pharmaceutical & Health Products

Some health and pharmaceutical products come with age or purchase restrictions, depending on the product and location.

Pharmacies Selling Pseudoephedrine

Retailers selling pseudoephedrine may need to verify age and maintain purchase records under applicable requirements.

Pharmacies Selling Schedule V OTC Medications

Some Schedule V products are subject to age and identification requirements.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy Product Retailers

Retailers selling nicotine replacement products may apply age restrictions depending on the product and applicable laws.

Syringe and Needle Retailers

Age restrictions for syringes and needles vary by state and local requirements.

Tattoo, Piercing & Body Modification

Age verification is common in the body modification industry, particularly where services have minimum age or parental consent requirements.

Tattoo Studios

Tattoo studios commonly verify age before providing services, although rules for minors vary by state.

Body Piercing Studios

Piercing studios may verify age and obtain parental consent when required.

Scarification and Branding Studios

Businesses offering scarification or branding services may have age and consent requirements based on local rules.

Cosmetic Tattoo and Microblading Studios

Permanent makeup providers may verify age before performing cosmetic tattooing or similar procedures.

Entertainment & Recreation Venues

Age verification can come into play for entertainment and recreation businesses because of age-restricted events, alcohol service, safety requirements, or venue policies.

Movie Theaters

Movie theaters check age when enforcing restrictions for certain films.

Concert and Live Event Venues

Event venues can check age at admission when an event or specific area is age-restricted.

Comedy Clubs

Comedy clubs can restrict entry based on age, particularly when alcohol is served.

Bowling Alleys With Bar Service

Bowling venues check age when customers purchase alcohol.

Axe Throwing Venues

Many axe-throwing businesses set minimum age requirements for participation.

Paintball and Airsoft Venues

Paintball and airsoft facilities set age minimums based on participation requirements and equipment use.

Go-Kart Tracks

Go-kart operators can establish age requirements based on the vehicle, track, or other activities offered.

Rage Rooms and Destruction Entertainment Venues

Rage rooms often set minimum ages based on safety requirements and the activities offered.

Escape Rooms with Adult Themes or Alcohol

Some escape rooms restrict participation based on adult themes, alcohol service, or venue policies.

Skydiving and Extreme Sports Operators

Extreme sports operators often require participants to meet minimum age requirements and complete applicable waivers.

Hunting and Game Preserves

Hunting businesses and preserves follow age requirements based on the activity and applicable licensing rules.

Fireworks

Fireworks are another category where age restrictions can vary by product and jurisdiction, so retailers often need to check local requirements.

Retail Fireworks Stands and Stores

Fireworks retailers check age before selling products subject to applicable age restrictions.

Year-Round Fireworks Specialty Retailers

Permanent fireworks stores follow applicable age requirements where sales are permitted.

Pyrotechnics and Firework Component Supply Companies

Businesses selling certain pyrotechnic products or components can face additional age and licensing requirements.

Online Fireworks Retailers

Online fireworks sellers can incorporate age verification into checkout or delivery, depending on applicable requirements.

Automotive & Vehicle Rentals

Rental businesses often use age verification because eligibility can depend on the customer’s age, license, or type of vehicle.

Car Rental Companies

Many rental companies set minimum age requirements, with additional fees or restrictions for younger drivers.

Motorcycle and Moped Rental Companies

Motorcycle and moped rental businesses check that customers meet minimum age and licensing requirements.

RV and Camper Rental Companies

RV and camper rental companies set minimum age requirements for renters.

ATV and Off-Road Vehicle Rentals

Off-road vehicle operators establish age requirements based on the vehicle and activity.

Scooter and E-Bike Rental Platforms

Some rental platforms require customers to meet a minimum age before allowing them to unlock or operate a vehicle.

Boat and Personal Watercraft Rentals

Boat and watercraft rental companies verify age and licensing eligibility before completing a rental.

Hospitality & Lodging

Hotels and other lodging businesses may check age for booking, check-in, alcohol purchases, or access to certain amenities.

Hotels and Motels

Properties can establish minimum check-in ages and verify age for minibar or alcohol purchases.

Extended-Stay Properties

Extended-stay hotels can set minimum age requirements for booking or check-in.

Vacation Rental Platforms

Vacation rental services can establish age requirements for booking and account creation.

Adult-Only Resorts

Adult-only properties verify age before allowing guests to book or access restricted amenities.

Hostels

Many hostels set minimum age requirements, particularly for shared accommodations.

Financial & Pawn

Age verification can be part of transactions involving lending, financial services, and pawn transactions.

Pawn Shops

Pawn shops may require customers to meet minimum age requirements before buying, selling, or pawning items.

Check Cashing and Payday Loan Companies

Some financial service providers require customers to meet legal age requirements before completing certain transactions.

Currency Exchange and Wire Transfer Services

Some financial transactions require customers to meet age and identification requirements.

Buy Here / Pay Here Car Lots

Vehicle financing generally requires customers to meet applicable legal requirements for entering into a credit agreement.

Digital & Online Platforms

As more age-restricted experiences move online, digital businesses are increasingly using age verification to control access to content, services, and transactions.

Adult Content Subscription Platforms

Adult content platforms increasingly use age verification to confirm users meet applicable minimum age requirements.

Online Dating Apps

Dating platforms establish minimum age requirements for creating and using an account.

Online Gaming Platforms with Mature-Rated Titles

Gaming services can apply age restrictions based on content, features, or applicable laws.

Social Media Platforms

Social platforms establish minimum age requirements, while certain features or content may be limited to older users.

NFT (Non-Fungible Token) and Crypto Gambling Platforms

Platforms involving gambling or wagering commonly verify age and identity before allowing users to participate.

Specialty Retail

Some specialty products have age restrictions that depend heavily on the product, location, and local law.

Kratom Retailers

Some states and municipalities restrict the sale of kratom products to minors.

Kava Bars and Kava Product Retailers

Kava businesses may face age restrictions depending on local regulations and the products they sell.

Energy Drink Retailers

Some jurisdictions have proposed or enacted age restrictions for certain energy drinks.

Whipped Cream Charger and Nitrous Oxide Retailers

Some jurisdictions restrict the sale of nitrous oxide products to minors or impose other purchase limitations.

Spray Paint Retailers

Some states and cities restrict spray paint sales to minors to address inhalant abuse.

Synthetic Cannabinoid and Novel Psychoactive Substance Retailers

These products can face significant restrictions or outright bans depending on the jurisdiction.

Hunting and Fishing License Retailers

Certain licenses and permits have minimum age requirements, making age verification relevant to some licensing transactions.

Does Your Business Need Age Verification?

Age verification isn’t limited to one type of retailer. If your business sells an age-restricted product, provides an age-restricted service, or controls access to an age-restricted experience, verifying a customer’s age may be part of staying compliant.

The rules can vary significantly by product, location, and sales channel, so businesses should always confirm the requirements that apply to their specific operations.

FTx Identity helps businesses verify customer age using tools such as ID scanning, barcode scanning, optical character recognition (OCR), near field communication (NFC), and facial recognition AI. Explore our age verification solutions to see how FTx Identity can fit into your customer experience.

This list is intended as a starting reference. Legal age verification requirements vary significantly by state, municipality, and product type. Businesses should consult applicable federal, state, and local law to confirm their specific compliance obligations.