Pubs and Bars in England and Wales Gain Approval to Use Digital ID and Biometric Age Checks

New laws coming into force this week will allow pubs, off-licences, nightclubs and restaurants in England and Wales to use biometric scanning technology to verify that customers are over 18, according to The Guardian.

Under the changes, younger drinkers will be able to prove their age using a digital ID rather than relying solely on traditional plastic identification cards, the report said.

Customers will be able to download software that scans their face using their own phone to generate a QR code confirming their age, based on a stored proof-of-age record, according to the report.

The government is also considering other technologies as part of a broader push to digitise age verification for alcohol sales, the report said. Among the options under review is a device that scans the veins in a drinker's finger to verify their age, though that system has not yet been approved for use, according to The Guardian.

The report noted that despite the introduction of digital verification options, old-style plastic ID cards will continue to be accepted at venues, meaning businesses and customers are not required to switch to the new technology.

The changes are aimed at streamlining age checks for venues selling alcohol, according to the report.