Can an RFID-based System Be Created for Securing Liquor Bottles?

Most security tags I have seen are magnetic. What would be the pros and cons of using an RFID security tag compared to existing magnetic bottle caps or tags?

—Manish

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Manish,

There are passive UHF RFID tags designed to track liquor bottles. These tags can trigger RFID-based electronic security gates at store exits. The benefit of this type of system is that you can use it for monitoring inventory, as well as for securing valuable inventory. Another benefit is that you know what was stolen. If someone were to rush out the door without paying for a bottle of 2011 Armand de Brignac, you'd know exactly what was taken and be able to replenish it.

The downside of using passive UHF tags is that there will be an added cost and you will have to apply the tags yourself since most liquor manufacturers do not put RFID transponders on their goods; some do, though—see Taiwanese Liquor Manufacturer Deploys Dual-Frequency Authentication Solution. Here is an article about a liquor retailer that achieved benefits from using RFID, which you might find of interest: Colorado Liquor Retailer Gets Quick Payback From Low-Cost RFID Solution. And here are a few articles on tags for liquor: Cosmetics and Liquor Companies Assess Toppan Printing's Holographic RFID Labels and R-pac Releases EPC UHF Label for Spirits, Wine, Cosmetics.

Mark Roberti
Founder and Editor
RFID Journal