Pubs in England and Wales are set to accept digital ID apps as a way to verify customers' age, alongside traditional forms of identification. The move aims to speed up and enhance the security of age checks, while reducing the need for physical documentation.

Customers can opt for apps such as those provided by the Post Office, Yoti or Luciditi, as long as they are on the government’s approved list. These apps allow users to generate a QR code that is scanned by a business’s free checker app, which then confirms the person’s age. The QR code is time-limited to prevent it from being shared or duplicated.

While the digital option is seen as a convenience, some digital rights campaigners have raised concerns. They argue that making digital ID mandatory could exclude those who prefer or cannot use such technology, or lack the necessary digital skills.

The government hopes to expand the digital proof-of-age scheme to cover other age-restricted products, such as tobacco and vapes, in the future. However, these plans have been met with skepticism, particularly given the controversy surrounding a previous digital ID programme that was later abandoned.