Supermarkets, convenience stores, pubs and other licensed businesses can now accept certified digital IDs as proof of age when selling alcohol in England and Wales, following a change to licensing rules.
As from today (15 September), digital IDs certified under the UK Government’s Digital Verification Services Trust Framework can be used to purchase alcohol.
The new rules remove a previous requirement for proof of age used in alcohol sales to contain physical security features such as holograms or ultraviolet marks, which now is an additional option.
Digital identity provider Yoti has partnered with point-of-sale and self-checkout technology providers including Diebold Nixdorf, Flooid, StrongPoint, Kestronics and Zebra Technologies to help retailers integrate digital age checks into existing systems.
The change means customers can use certified digital IDs, including Yoti ID and Post Office EasyID, to prove they are over 18 without necessarily sharing additional personal information such as their address or exact date of birth.
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The businesses say Yoti and Post Office EasyID have collectively been downloaded more than eight million times in the UK, with around 170,000 new downloads each month, with a quarter of 18- to 24-year-olds have downloaded the apps.
For larger retailers, the technology partnerships are designed to enable digital ID checks through existing tills and self-checkout systems.
More than 15,000 businesses had downloaded the ID Checker app ahead of the law change, according to Yoti.
“The change in law to allow digital IDs for alcohol sales is a landmark moment for digital identity in the UK,” said Yoti CEO Robin Tombs.
“We’ve been working towards this moment since Yoti was founded in 2014 and we’re delighted to work with leading technology providers including Diebold Nixdorf, Flooid, StrongPoint, Kestronics and Zebra Technologies to make it simple for businesses to start accepting digital proof of age.”
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