Adult signature required on new postal service

WASHINGTON — The Postal Service is offering a new service that will require an adult to sign for materials received.

The age-verification service — called Adult Signature Required — will require the signature of someone 21 or older and is intended for use on items such as drugs, documents and legal instruments, postal officials said Monday.

Despite its name, the service is optional and for now only available to commercial account holders and online customers using Express Mail, Priority Mail, Critical Mail and Parcel Select barcoded items. It costs $4.75 extra.

In addition to current uses, the post office is seeking a change in the law to allow it to deliver alcoholic beverages, and the adult signature requirement could also provide a method to do that.