Age verification on phones will boost high street and hospitality – government
Proposed changes to law will mean people can use digital IDs on phones to verify their age when buying alcohol in shops, pubs and clubs
The government is proposing to change the law to provide people with a voluntary, safe and secure way to prove their age – without needing to carry around physical documents such as a passport or driving licence. That’s useful because such physical documents can be lost or stolen; they also often contain personal information such as the person’s full name and address, which can be overseen and exploited by bad actors.
Photo by Jonas Leupe
Instead, we will now be able to present our digital ID on a phone for a quick programmatic check, in much the way many of us already do when scanning a QR code or using near-field communication (NFC) contactless payment.
The proposed change will also ensure that such digital identification meets robust standards through a process of independent certification. Landlords and shop owners will be free to choose from a range of verification service providers.
Indeed, more than 50 such companies are already certified under the UK Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework. There’s already a thriving sector in digital ID, which generated £2.05bn in the UK in the year 2023-24 and employed more than 10,000 people across the UK – half of them outside London.
The Data (Use and Access) Bill, which is currently before Parliament, aims to put the framework in law, adding certified digital identities to the list of accepted age verification methods, alongside traditional forms such as passports and driver’s licenses. Those form of ID are not being replaced; those who wish to continue using them can.
The hope is that these reforms will be in place by the end of this year – in time for Christmas 2025.
Peter Kyle MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, says: ‘This change benefits both consumers and businesses spurring the economic growth we need to put more money in the pockets of working people as part of our Plan for Change. By next Christmas, you won’t need to carry a wallet or risk losing important documents like your passport or driver’s license when heading out to celebrate. With a certified digital identity on your phone, you can raise a glass in your local pub without hassle – a merry step forward in making age verification safer, easier, and more convenient for everyone.’
Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UK Hospitality, adds: ‘Digital IDs can make life easier for both consumers and businesses, and we’re pleased to be supporting its introduction. There are fewer things more frustrating than realising you’ve forgotten your ID when heading to a pub, bar or restaurant, and hopefully these new measures will make that a thing of the past. I look forward to working with the government on its smooth implementation, which minimises additional costs for businesses.’
James Hawkins, from the British Beer and Pub Association (BPPA) says: ‘This welcome change brings the Licensing Act in line with current technology and will make a visit to the pub easier for both customers and staff. This additional way of carrying ID could be more convenient and reduce the risk of customers losing key ID documents when enjoying a night out.’
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