Convenience store giant 7-Eleven criticized over ID-scanning policy
Global News
A Calgary man is among several Albertans who contacted Global News concerned over an ID-scanning policy at convenience store giant 7-Eleven.
A convenience store giant is facing growing criticism in Alberta over its identification-scanning policy for certain items.
A number of 7-Eleven’s customers have reached out to Global News with concerns over having to hand over their government ID to be scanned in order to buy certain items.
Carl Spenard said he was surprised to be asked for his driver’s licence when recently buying lottery tickets.
Spenard said he asked why it was mandatory, but was not given an answer besides that it was “policy.”
“They said it was new policy for lottery tickets and cigarettes. I basically said: ‘I don’t understand this. You can look at my ID and see that I’m over 18 (years of age).'”
7-Eleven does have the policy posted on the outside and inside of some of its convenience stores. It actually started scanning government-issued IDs a few years ago at various locations for adult-only purchases.
But Spenard said he’s never had to scan his ID before; he’s only shown it to the clerk. His biggest concern is data breaches and his personal information getting into the wrong hands.
“Anytime you scan government ID, it’s just always leery to me,” he said. “There’s always data breaches. It’s happened in the past.”