It’s the news we’ve been waiting for. People will soon be able to use digital IDs to prove their age when buying alcohol. The Government has shared an update, confirming the change will come in next year.
Digital IDs will give people an easier, safer and more secure way to prove their age when buying alcohol in high street pubs, supermarkets, convenience stores, nightclubs, pubs and bars. This is a significant step forward and demonstrates the growing importance and demand for reusable Digital IDs.
In the UK, over five million people have already downloaded our Digital ID apps. These users will soon be able to use their Digital ID as proof of age for alcohol at over 100,000 licensed premises.
How our Digital IDs will support alcohol sales
- Free consumer app: our Digital IDs are free for people to download and use.
- Inclusivity: we accept over 350 documents from around the world, making our Digital IDs accessible to as many people as possible.
- Consumer choice: customers can choose which Digital ID they’d like to use – Yoti ID, Post Office EasyID or Lloyds Bank Smart ID. The Government has confirmed that people can continue to use a physical ID if they prefer.
- Consumer demand: 57% of UK adults said they would like to use their phone to prove their age, to buy alcohol and other age-restricted items (YouGov, 2023).
- Part of Digital ID Connect: Yoti ID, Post Office EasyID and Lloyds Bank Smart ID make up Digital ID Connect, the network of three reusable apps. We already have over five million Digital ID app downloads in the UK. That’s five million customers who are ready to use a Digital ID to prove their age.
- Data minimisation: customers can share their age or an ‘over 18’ proof of age, without sharing any other details like their address or exact date of birth. This gives customers a more private way to prove their age, compared to using physical identity documents. The Government has highlighted that this could be particularly impactful for women, as they won’t have to show their driving licence which risks revealing their address to bad actors.
- Experience in the retail sector: we were part of the Home Office sandbox in 2022, where UK supermarkets tested digital age verification, including our Digital ID app. Of the 99,800 customers that used the technology, there were no reported sales of underage customers purchasing age-restricted items.
- Proven track record: our Digital IDs are already an approved proof of ID. They have been accredited by the UK’s national Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS), which is endorsed by the Home Office, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the Security Industry Authority (SIA). Our Digital IDs are already accepted as proof of age at UK cinemas and for other age-restricted goods including energy drinks, lottery tickets and tobacco.
- Relieve pressure on staff: the quality of fake IDs, especially those generated by AI, is now incredibly sophisticated and easily available – facilitating both the creation of fake documents and the tampering of genuine ones. They are becoming so good that spotting a fake with the human eye is nearly impossible. When someone creates their Digital ID, we verify their details and ensure they are using a genuine identity document. Our technology reduces the risks of staff incorrectly estimating the age of shoppers.
- Reduce abuse towards staff: The British Retail Consortium recently highlighted a sharp increase in violence against shopworkers in the last few years. Their research found that asking customers for ID for age verification is one of the most common triggers for abuse. Digital IDs will support retailers and help make stores a safer place to work and shop, as well as support enforcement of rules to minimise underage sales.
Our Digital IDs also have additional utility, making them more useful for individuals. We are certified by the UK government for right to work, criminal record (DBS), and right to rent identity checks. The Yoti ID, EasyID and Lloyds Bank Smart ID apps can also be used as proof of identity to collect parcels from the Post Office. And they can be used by students as a verified Student ID.
To find out more about our Digital IDs and how they will be used for the sale of alcohol, please get in touch.