Kirin Upgrades Age Verification System on its Website to Restrict Access to Alcohol Branding Content by Minors

Kirin Holdings Company, Limited (President and CEO: Yoshinori Isozaki) upgraded in late May the age verification system on its corporate website that showcases the Kirin Group’s branded alcoholic beverage products. This is part of the Company’s efforts to prevent underage drinking by restricting access to online alcohol branding content by minors.

The Company unveiled the Kirin Group CSV1 Purpose in February 2019, which provides guidelines for creating shared value with society and promoting sustainable growth, and serves as long-term, non-financial targets incorporated into the Kirin Group Vision 2027, which represents the Group’s long-term management vision. The upgraded age verification system is intended to promote zero harmful drinking and is part of our efforts to play a leading role as a responsible alcohol producer as called for in the CSV Purpose.

1. CSV: Creating Shared Value. The premise is about creating value that can be shared with customers and society.

The upgraded age verification system on our website (www.kirin.co.jp) asks a visitor to enter her or his year of birth2 to gain access to a page on which information about the Group’s alcoholic beverage products is provided. When the system determines that the visitor is less than 20 years old, the visitor is taken to a page that says the content is not suitable for minors. Previously, a visitor was able to access such a page by clicking “Yes” to “Are you 20 years or older?” displayed on the home page.
www.kirin.co.jp

1. If the system is unable to determine whether a visitor is 20 years or older based on the year of her or his birth alone, the visitor is prompted to enter her or his date of birth.

The Kirin Group positions CSV at the core of management to work with society to achieve sustainable growth. Group companies address social issues through business activities with a focus on the three key CSV themes—health and well-being, community engagement, and the environment—while playing a leading role as a responsible alcohol producer. In the business environment in which the Group operates, companies big and small around the world are under increasing pressure to tackle social issues, which include health problems caused by harmful drinking. The Kirin Group is committed to promoting zero harmful drinking in society and ensuring that people will continue to enjoy a responsible drinking culture for generations to come.

How the New Age Verification System Works on Kirin’s Corporate Website

A visitor who tries to gain access to information about Kirin’s alcoholic beverage products on the website is prompted to enter her or his year of birth on the screen. (Image A)

• If the system determines that the visitor is at least 20 years old, the visitor is allowed access to the information.
• If the system is unable to determine whether the visitor is 20 years or older based on the year of her or his birth alone, the visitor is asked to provide her or his date of birth. (Image B)
• When the system determines that the visitor is less than 20 years old, the visitor is taken to a page without a “Back” button that says the content is not suitable for minors. (Image C)
• When a visitor who was determined to be under age in a previous session returns to the age verification page, she or he will be directed to the page with the age restriction message.

The Kirin Group continues to play a leading role as a responsible alcohol producer and address such social issues as health and well-being, community engagement, and the environment so as to help create a prosperous society and a bright future for our customers.