Face-Scanning Tech at Louisiana Bars Aiming to Stop Underage Drinking

LOUISIANA - State Senator Beth Mizel is looking to change the way Louisiana bars verify if customers are of legal drinking age. Mizel's bill, if passed, would have bars utilize face-scanning technology to verify a customer's age.

The idea comes after multiple heartbreaking cases involving underage drinking and deadly consequences, and it’s now getting attention across Louisiana.

How would this even work, and what are the issues over privacy concerns tied to this technology?

Why Face-Scanning Technology Is Being Proposed

The proposed legislation would require Louisiana bars to use AI-powered face-scanning technology to estimate a customer’s age before serving alcohol.

Instead of relying solely on state issued IDs, which can be fake or borrowed, the system would scan a person’s face and determine whether they appear to be 21 or older.

According to WBRZ.com, the proposed technology would also involve scanning a QR code tied to the customer, though the bill says that no personal data would be stored.

The Reasons Behind The Push For Change

The reasons behind this proposal is in response to several devastating incidents in Louisiana.

From WBRZ.com -

"State Sen. Beth Mizell deferred the legislation, which came in the wake of the 2023 death of LSU student Madison Brooks.

According to court records, 19-year-old Brooks left Reggie's Bar with three other men who are accused of raping her. Brooks was dropped off along Burbank Drive and struck by a car."

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Another case behind the bill involves 19-year-old Brandon Zachary who died after leaving a bar along US-190 in Hammond after a night of drinking.

Supporters of the bill argue that current systems just aren’t working.

Fake IDs remain easy to obtain, and human error at the door can lead to devastating consequences. Advocates believe adding AI into the mix could help close those gaps.

Privacy Concerns Surround Facial Recognition

Not everyone is on board.

Critics of the proposal worry about privacy and how facial recognition technology could be used, or misused, in the future. Even though the bill states that data wouldn’t be stored, opponents argue that scanning faces in bars raises red flags and could open the door to broader surveillance concerns.

For now, the proposal has stalled in committee after Senator Beth Mizel chose to defer it. That means it’s not moving forward, at least not right now, but the conversation is far from over.

With growing concern over underage drinking and safety, it’s likely this idea, or something similar, will definitely resurface in future legislative sessions.

Read more over at WBRZ.com.