FDA Age Calculator

With the “FDA Age Calculator,” retailers can use their personal smartphones to help determine if the purchaser is old enough under federal law to buy tobacco products. Using the camera feature on a smartphone, the app is able to scan the driver’s license of the purchaser to determine if the customer is at least 18 years of age (the federal minimum age to buy a tobacco product). The birthdate listed on the photo id can also be manually entered into the app by the retailer for a quick age calculation. Importantly, the customer’s personal information is not transmitted or shared, and is not saved in the app, the retailer’s smartphone, or a third party or government server.