Overview
- The government laid a statutory instrument late last week to amend Licensing Act rules so licensed premises can accept certified digital identity apps as proof of age for alcohol sales.
- Digital checks will be permitted only when provided by Digital Verification Services certified against the UK DVS trust framework and listed on a statutory DVS register on GOV.UK.
- Supermarkets, pubs and online retailers — including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl and Waitrose — will be able to accept digital ID if they choose while customers may still use physical photographic ID.
- Ministers say certified apps will verify only age information for purchases and can draw on multiple evidence sources such as documents, public records and future government digital credentials; an Economic Note will accompany the instrument.
- The government intends the change to take effect in Autumn 2026 subject to parliamentary procedure and completion of the DVS certification process, and media coverage has reported about eight million downloads of digital ID apps to date.