UK introduces digital proof of age for drinking
Key Points
- Licensed venues in England and Wales can accept certified digital proof of age from 15 September
- Customers show a QR code or tap their phone rather than handing over a passport or driving licence
- Apps share only an over-18 confirmation, keeping name and address private
- Yoti ID, Post Office EasyID and Luciditi ID already meet the certification standard
- Adoption is voluntary and physical ID remains valid
Pubs, bars, restaurants and music venues across England and Wales can accept certified digital proof of age for alcohol sales from Tuesday (15 September), the government has announced.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology announced the change, which lets customers confirm they are over 18 through a certified app rather than handing over a passport or driving licence.
Customers can show a QR code for staff to scan or tap their phone against a compatible reader. Staff then receive a confirmation on their own device that the customer has passed the age check.
The app shares only the fact that the customer is over 18, so venues never see the customer’s name, home address or date of birth. Physical ID remains a valid way to prove age, and businesses can choose whether to adopt the digital option at all.
“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,” said Stephanie Peacock, Digital Government Minister.
The government said certified digital services check that an ID is genuine and belongs to the person presenting it, which can reduce the risk of fake or borrowed documents passing undetected.
Only providers listed on the statutory register of Digital Verification Services on GOV.UK and certified under the UK digital verification services trust framework qualify. Yoti ID, Post Office EasyID and Luciditi ID are among the apps that already meet the standard.
The change sits under the Licensing Act 2003 (Mandatory Licensing Conditions) (Amendment) Order 2026. It does not alter the legal drinking age or the existing duty on businesses to prevent underage sales.
Until now, licensing rules in England and Wales required proof of age to carry a holographic mark, which ruled out anything displayed on a phone screen. The Retail of Alcohol Standards Group said this meant only physical documents such as a driving licence, passport, military ID or PASS card could satisfy the law.
The government first announced the change on Tuesday (30 June) after a 2024 consultation in which 72% of respondents backed digital identities for alcohol age checks. Post Office said at the time that more than 8 million people in the UK had already downloaded one of the digital ID apps.
The digital proof of age scheme runs separately from the GOV.UK Wallet and the forthcoming digital driving licence, although the government said these will in time become another way to prove age for alcohol.
“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,” said Allen Simpson, Chief Executive of UKHospitality.
“We’re delighted that businesses in England and Wales can now start accepting apps like Yoti ID and Post Office EasyID as proof of age for alcohol sales,” said Robin Tombs, Co-founder and CEO of Yoti.
