EDEKA Jaeger, part of the German supermarket group EDEKA, has installed an AI-based age verification system across its self-service checkouts at its store in Stuttgart Airport.

The technology, developed by Diebold Nixdorf, allows shoppers to purchase age-restricted goods such as alcohol without requiring approval from store employees.

When an age-restricted item is scanned, the customer is asked to consent to the process and their characteristics are analysed using cameras and AI algorithms to verify their age.

Employees only need to check customers who opt out of the service or fall below the age limit.

EDEKA Jaeger said that the system complies with GDPR guidelines as the process does not involve facial recognition or storing images.

According to the supermarket chain, in the first week of use over 80 per cent of age-restricted goods were automatically approved.


"The creation of quick, simple purchasing processes for customers and my employees is key, said Florian Jaeger, owner of the store at Stuttgart Airport. “This is what makes our store at Stuttgart Airport so attractive for busy travellers.

“To achieve this, I am always open to explore new innovations. Thanks to AI support, we have already been able to drastically reduce employee interventions for age checks."

In 2022, UK supermarkets – including Asda, Morrisons, Tesco and The Co-op – trialled Yoti’s digital age verification at self-checkouts in a scheme run by the Home Office.

While this has not yet been rolled out beyond trial stage, in January this year the government launched a consultation on whether to allow digital identities and technology to play a role in age verification for alcohol sales.

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