Government announces consultation on whether to amend the Licensing Act to allow for digital age verification in light of new technology

The Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire, Chris Philp has announced that the Government has today launched a consultation on whether to allow digital identities and technology to play a role in age verification for alcohol sales, as well as whether to amend legislation in order to specify that for sales of alcohol that do not take place face to face, age verification should take place at the point of delivery as well as sale.

He said, “The Government is keen to enable the secure and appropriate use of new technologies that can improve the experience of consumers and retailers. However the current wording of the Act does not allow technology to play a part in the age verification process for alcohol sales. A person must make the decision on whether an individual is old enough to purchase alcohol.”

The Minister’s full statement can be found here.

The Consultation proposes various Options as follows:

Digital Identities & Technology

Option 1

Do nothing: only traditional identity documents which contain a holographic image or ultraviolet feature are acceptable for age verification for alcohol sales.

Option 2

Alongside traditional identity documents, also allow digital identities to be used for age verification for alcohol sales. And / or

Option 3

Alongside traditional identity documents, also allow age estimation and other technology to be used for age verification for alcohol sales.

Remote Sales

Option 4

Do nothing. Age verification checks, checks to establish that an individual is not already intoxicated, and checks that a sale is not a proxy sale must take place at the point of sale/appropriation to a contract.

Option 5

Amend the Licensing Act so that age verification checks, checks to establish that an individual is not already intoxicated, and checks that a sale is not a proxy sale must take place at the point of sale/appropriation to a contract and also at the point of delivery/service. Or

Option 6

Amend the Section 182 guidance which accompanies the Licensing Act to advise that age verification checks, checks to establish that an individual is not already intoxicated and checks that a sale is not a proxy sale must take place at the point of sale/appropriation to a contract and should additionally take place at the point of the point of delivery/service.

The Consultation, which closes at 11:59pm on 30 March 2024 can be found here