Starting Tuesday, pubs and shops in England and Wales can use digital ID apps on customers' phones as an alternative to traditional forms of identification to verify age for alcohol purchases. The government emphasizes that this new technology will enhance security and convenience while allowing businesses to continue accepting physical IDs if they choose. Several companies like the Post Office, Yoti, and Luciditi are developing approved apps, which will require facial recognition or other verification methods to prevent fraud. Critics, however, warn about potential access issues for those without smartphones or digital literacy skills.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.35, but none of the 3 quote(s) it offered could be found in the article text, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 9951: no verified evidence · logged 2026-09-15
- Published
Alcohol buyers will be able to use a digital ID app on their phones to prove their age under new rules introduced on Tuesday.
asserted
buyers → publish → Tuesday
Pubs and shops in England and Wales can use the tech in addition to current physical forms of ID - with the government saying a digital option will make age-checks quicker and more secure for customers and staff.
asserted
checks → use → customers
Customers will be able to choose ID apps from a range of suppliers such as the Post Office, Yoti or Luciditi, provided they are on a government-approved list.
asserted
they → choose → list
The change means businesses will no longer be required to let people use physical ID, but the government contends most establishments would.
asserted
establishments → mean → ID
The plan will be technology-agnostic, meaning that the government is not setting out in detail how each app must work.
asserted
app → mean → detail
It argues that under the voluntary digital ID scheme, drinkers would share fewer personal details with a venue or shop - such as tapping their phone on a reader or displaying a scannable QR code rather than handing over an official document.
asserted
drinkers → argue → document
The apps will also need to guard against customers borrowing devices from older friends and relatives, and ensure the ID app belongs to the person using it.
asserted
app → need → it
Yoti's digital ID app, for example, will only let a user log in if a scan of their face matches that of the person who signed up for the app.
asserted
who → let → app
The app then generates a QR code that can be scanned by a business with a free checker app, which tells them the person's age.
asserted
which → generate → age
This is time-limited to make duping or sharing the QR code more difficult.
asserted
duping → limit → code
Digital government minister Stephanie Peacock said having the option for digital ID would "mean you do not need to carry a physical ID, nor hand over sensitive personal information" meaning people could "feel safer on a night out'".
uncertain
people → say → night
Allen Simpson, chief executive of trade body UKHospitality, said the new rules were a "positive step".
asserted
rules → say → UKHospitality
He added the industry would work with government to make sure the scheme's roll-out would not be "burdensome" for the hospitality sector.
asserted
be → add → sector
This would include ensuring there were multiple options for suppliers and that it was cost-efficient, Simpson said.
asserted
Simpson → include → suppliers
The government wants digital ID apps under its scheme to work together so customers do not need to use different apps in different venues.
asserted
customers → want → venues
It also wants the services to work offline and accessible even without mobile data or a Wi-Fi connection.
asserted
services → want → data
In future, the digital proof of age scheme could be extended to cover tobacco and vapes.
uncertain
scheme → extend → tobacco
But digital rights campaigners have said such measures could lead to the exclusion of some groups.
uncertain
measures → say → groups
Jasleen Chaggar of Big Brother Watch said while having multiple ways to prove your identity was helpful, the Government should ensure that digital ID did not become effectively mandatory "as it would shut out millions of people".
asserted
it → say → people
"Many people have legitimate reasons for relying on physical ID, whether out of choice, privacy and security concerns, or because they lack the digital skills or means to use digital ID," she said.
asserted
she → have → ID
"The Government should expressly prohibit businesses from requiring digital IDs for age checks without offering reasonable alternatives," she added.
asserted
she → prohibit → alternatives
The new rules come after a wider digital ID programme promoted by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer proved controversial, and was later abandoned by Andy Burnham.
asserted
programme → come → Burnham
The Aporia
