Pubs and retail outlets will be permitted to accept digital ID as valid proof of age when purchasing alcohol under new laws.
The policy provides a modern alternative to carrying physical identity documents, enabling customers to use their mobile phones to verify their age in pubs, live concerts and festivals.
Taking effect on Tuesday, these statutory updates to the licensing act apply across commercial businesses in England and Wales.
However, officials anticipate that widespread adoption of the technology will take some time.
The digital proof will be delivered via third-party software such as Yoti, a service already deployed in specific contexts, such as verifying young filmgoers buying age-restricted cinema tickets.
Ministers intend to broaden digital age verification past retail alcohol purchases, targeting sales of tobacco products and vaping devices as the next immediate priority.
The move follows Prime Minister Andy Burnham cancelling a broader national digital ID project originally formulated during the tenure of his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer.
Digital Government Minister Stephanie Peacock said: “From pubs and restaurants to music venues and festivals, licensed businesses carry out millions of age checks every year.
“It will remain an individual or business’ choice whether to use or adopt it, and physical ID will remain a valid way for customers to prove their age.
“This groundbreaking change in the law will mean you do not need to carry a physical ID, nor hand over sensitive personal information such as your name or address just to prove your age – allowing everyone to feel safer on a night out.”
Those buying alcohol will need to go through an authentication process to prove it is their ID each time they use it – for example by scanning their face or entering a code on the app.
This will then generate a token, such as a QR code, that remains valid for a window of around 30 seconds to guard against someone falsely using another person’s ID.
In some cases the user might enter a pin to verify themselves, with a photo then sent to a terminal that the bartender or person behind a till could use to compare to the person in front of them.
Several third-party apps are expected to be available.
The Government has asked developers to make their systems interoperable so customers can have one ID app on their phone rather than being forced to download multiple apps to use at different retailers.
It is expected to be available to use offline in the same way contactless payments can be.
It is not yet clear what the cost to businesses will be, but it is thought that it will be possible to integrate the technology into tablets they already own.
Businesses are not legally required to keep accepting physical ID for alcohol purchases as the licensing changes give equivalence to digital and physical forms.
But the Government does not expect them to stop taking physical IDs as doing so would exclude some customers and there is no cost to continuing to accept them.
Allen Simpson, chief executive of industry group UKHospitality, said:
“Introducing digital proof of age is a positive step for hospitality, providing greater flexibility and convenience for customers and businesses.
“The roll-out of the voluntary digital proof of age will provide an easier experience for customers, allowing them to verify their age securely from their phones.
“We look forward to working with the Government to ensure the roll-out of the scheme, with multiple supplier options available, is cost-efficient and not burdensome for the hospitality sector.”
