Premises licence

Digital ID in licensed premises (legislation change)

Digital proof of age can now be accepted for alcohol sales in licensed premises across England and Wales, following the coming into force of the Licensing Act 2003 (Mandatory Licensing Conditions) (Amendment) Order 2026 on Tuesday 15 September 2026. The change allows licensed businesses to choose to accept certified digital proof of age alongside existing physical forms of identification.

Under the new arrangements, licensed premises can adopt certified digital age-verification services to confirm that a customer is aged 18 or over when purchasing alcohol. Physical identification documents will remain valid, and businesses are not required to adopt digital proof of age.

The legislation follows parliamentary approval of the amendment order earlier this year and now formally amends the mandatory licensing conditions relating to age verification. Digital proof of age must be provided through a certified Digital Verification Service listed on the statutory register Find registered digital verification services - GOV.UK and meet the standards set out within the UK digital verification services trust framework.

Accepting digital ID is strictly voluntary, you are well within your rights to continue checking only physical IDs if that is easier for your business.

Approved physical identification

The core mandatory licensing conditions remain unchanged for physical documents.

A physical ID is only acceptable if it features a photograph, a date of birth, and a holographic mark or ultraviolet feature.

• A Photo Driving Licence: Issued by the UK, EEA, or Commonwealth.
• A Valid Passport: From any nation.
• A PASS Card: Any physical card carrying the Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) hologram (e.g., CitizenCard or MyIDCard).
• Military ID: Official UK Armed Forces ID cards.

Approved Digital Proof of Age

If you choose to accept digital ID to speed up queues and cater to younger crowds, you cannot just look at a customer's phone screen. Generative AI makes screenshots and fake apps too easy to forge.

 You must perform a programmatic check (scanning a QR code or using a tap-reader) using a system tied to an approved provider. At launch, the main government-approved digital verification services (DVS) include:

• Yoti ID
• Post Office EasyID
• Luciditi ID

Staff cannot accept photos of passports on phones, or general Apple/Google Wallet cards for alcohol, unless specifically integrated with a certified DVS provider.

 If you start using a Digital Proof of Age system:

• Update Your Written Policy / Training Notes: If you adopt digital checks, update your Challenge 25 / age verification policy documents to outline how staff should process them.
• Equip Your Staff: To accept digital ID, download a free verification tool (like the Yoti ID Checker app) onto a staff smartphone/tablet, or integrate the software directly into your electronic point of sale (EPOS) till system.
• Enforce Challenge 25: Digital ID does not replace Challenge 25. If a customer looks under 25, you must still challenge them. The only thing that changes is that the customer can present an approved app instead of a physical card.

Last updated 23 September 2026