Alcohol purchasers will soon be able to verify their age using digital ID applications on their smartphones, as new regulations take effect on Tuesday.
Establishments across England and Wales can adopt this technology alongside traditional physical identification methods, with authorities emphasizing that digital options enhance both speed and security for patrons and employees.
Consumers can select from various approved providers, including the Post Office, Yoti, or Luciditi, as long as the app appears on the government’s sanctioned list.
While businesses are no longer mandated to accept physical ID, the government maintains that most venues will continue to do so.
The initiative remains technology-agnostic, avoiding rigid specifications on how individual applications must function.
Officials argue that the voluntary framework minimizes the personal data shared with venues—allowing patrons to tap their phones or scan a QR code rather than surrendering official documents.
Furthermore, the apps must prevent users from borrowing devices from older acquaintances and ensure the phone’s owner is the one verifying their age.
For instance, Yoti’s application requires a facial scan matching the registered user before granting access.
Once verified, the app produces a time-limited QR code that businesses can scan using a free checker application to confirm the user’s age.
This time-bound feature helps prevent the sharing or duplication of the code.
Digital Government Minister Stephanie Peacock stated that the option for digital ID means people “do not need to carry a physical ID, nor hand over sensitive personal information,” allowing them to “feel safer on a night out.”
Allen Simpson, CEO of UKHospitality, called the new rules a “positive step.”
He noted that the industry will collaborate with the government to ensure the rollout is not “burdensome” for the hospitality sector.
This includes providing multiple supplier options and maintaining cost efficiency, Simpson added.
