Hemp Beverage Alliance and BlueCheck Partner to Improve Age Verification in the Industry

The Hemp Beverage Alliance (HBA) and the age and identify verification vendor BlueCheck have partnered to provide an improved age-verification process for hemp beverages companies, a recent press release from BlueCheck states (1). The stated mission of the HBA is to support a safe and growing industry for consumers, retailers, and distributors through education, collaboration, developing best practices, and advocacy. Earlier this year, it hosted the Hemp Beverage Expo is Atlanta, Georgia (2).

Age Verification in the Industry

The press release noted that hemp beverage companies have created a strong industry with consumers across legal drinking age demographics. With the age verification technology, it adds, members can support proactive compliance in their business, block underage access to products, and still offer a satisfactory experience for legitimate purchases.

"One of our core principles is to keep adult beverages out of the hands of minors," explained Christopher Lackner, president of the HBA, in the December 16, 2025, press release. "Members who strengthen their age-verification processes will position themselves and the industry for sustainable growth."

"HBA members that want to get ahead of regulation now have access to verification technology that's proven across hundreds of age-restricted businesses," stated Alex Zeig, CEO of BlueCheck. "We're seeing hemp companies voluntarily implement age verification despite the cost impact because they know their products are for adults only. Their customers range from 21 to 85 years old. These businesses want to build compliance track records now—this preferred vendor relationship makes it straightforward for HBA members to do exactly that."

Features of the Technology

BlueCheck offers age verification technology that integrates into e-commerce platforms, verifies customer information in real time, supports compliance for companies, and protects consumers.

As listed in the press release, the tools and features available in its multi-layered platform include (1):

• Preferential pricing for HBA members
• Real-time verification against trusted identity databases (95%–97% fully automated age verification with no interruption to checkout at all)
• Complete audit trails showing every verification attempt—critical for demonstrating compliance to regulators
• Seamless Shopify integration with automated order management
• Enterprise-grade security with AES-256 encryption and SOC 2 certification underway
• Proven ability to catch underage buyers (0.5-1% block rate across tens of millions of transactions)

Additional BlueCheck Partnerships in the Hemp Industry

Earlier this year, BlueCheck and the advocacy organization US Hemp Roundtable partnered to support online hemp sales and provide confidence in keeping minors from making purchases (3).

“Compliance with age-verification laws is a top priority for the hemp industry, and in 2025, we have more tools at our disposal than just a quick glance at an ID,” explained Jonathan Miller, General Counsel of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable in the March press release. “Our collaboration with BlueCheck will help hemp businesses comply with age-restriction laws while ensuring only legal adult consumers can complete purchases online.”

The key features with the system highlighted in the press release included third party verification, Shopify integration, photo ID backup as a secondary verification method if needed, automated order management for failed verifications, and regulatory compliance.

“BlueCheck is excited to partner with the U.S. Hemp Roundtable to support responsible sales in the hemp industry,” Zeig commented in the press release. “Our system not only ensures legal compliance but also helps businesses maintain a frictionless purchasing process for verified adult consumers.”

References

1. BlueCheck. BlueCheck Joins with the Hemp Beverage Alliance to Improve Age-Verification Processes for Hemp Beverage Industry. December 16, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/12/16/3206374/0/en/BLUECHECK-JOINS-WITH-THE-HEMP-BEVERAGE-ALLIANCE-TO-IMPROVE-AGE-VERIFICATION-PROCESSES-FOR-HEMP-BEVERAGE-INDUSTRY.html (Accessed 2025-12-17).
2. Colli, M. Partnership between US Hemp Roundtable and BlueCheck Helps Support Online Hemp Sales. March 26, 2025. https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/partnership-between-us-hemp-roundtable-and-bluecheck-helps-support-online-hemp-sales (Accessed 2025-12-17).
3. Colli, M. New Hemp Beverage Expo Created by Hemp Beverage Alliance. February 18, 2025. https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/new-hemp-beverage-expo-created-by-hemp-beverage-alliance (Accessed 2025-12-17).