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Leisure Sector Update: Changes to Age Verification for Alcohol Sales: The Introduction of Digital ID

Samantha Faud
Samantha Faud Monday 3 February 2025

Welcome to the Harrison Drury Leisure Sector Newsletter. Your regular update on legal developments across the leisure, hospitality and tourism sector. Our aim is to keep you informed, prepared and ahead of the curve with insights tailored to support you and your business.

The Government has unveiled plans to modernise age verification for alcohol sales in licensed premises. The Data (Use and Access) Bill proposes to allow customers to be able to use digital verification services to prove their age without the need to provide physical documents.  This digital ID aligns with the Government’s broader objective to digitise key public services.

The Licensing Act 2003 currently governs age verification for the sale of alcohol. A recent consultation has revealed notable support for updating the law to permit digital ID. This is expected to shorten wait times within bars and clubs, and also carries privacy and security advantages by only confirming a customer is 18 or older whilst also being much more difficult to forge that physical ID.

Relevant licensed premises could start familiarising themselves with the use of digital ID now to ensure a smoother transition as and when the measures are introduced. Licenced premises can choose from a host of digital verification service providers but should ensure the digital ID service is listed on GOV.UK’s register. They must check the digital ID belongs to the customer for which facial recognition is likely to be used. Licenced premises must also verify the digital ID for which NFC or QR codes will likely be used.

The reforms are expected to come into force later this year, and will likely mark a significant change for licensed premises.

We have a team of solicitors across a range of legal disciplines all with significant experience in supporting businesses in the leisure sector. Meet our leisure sector team to see how our team can help support you. If you wish to subscribe to our leisure newsletter, please do so here.