New rules introduced on Tuesday allow pubs and shops in England and Wales to accept digital ID apps as proof of age when buying alcohol, alongside existing physical ID. The government says the voluntary scheme will make age checks quicker and more secure, letting customers share fewer personal details, though businesses will not be required to accept it and physical ID will remain valid. The change follows the collapse of a wider, more controversial national digital ID programme championed by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, which was later scrapped by Andy Burnham.

Approved suppliers include the Post Office, Yoti and Luciditi, with apps needing government approval and safeguards to stop people borrowing a device from an older friend or relative, such as facial-recognition login and time-limited QR codes. UKHospitality welcomed the move but wants the rollout to avoid being burdensome, with multiple, cost-efficient supplier options, while the government wants apps to work together and function offline. Digital rights group Big Brother Watch warned against the checks becoming effectively mandatory, saying millions could be excluded, and there are plans to eventually extend the scheme to tobacco and vapes.