Convenience stores to trial UK’s first digital proof of age card
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Convenience stores are set to be part of a testing programme for the UK’s first digital proof of age card.
Age Proof has been designed to safeguard young people needing to verify their age and is accredited by the Home Office-endorsed Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS).
The move towards digital could potentially be well received by young people, with 94% of respondents in favour of a digital form of ID that they can use on their phone, according to an auditor community survey by Serve Legal, the UK age-verification auditing specialist.
A further 90% felt it would be more desirable than carrying a physical ID card such as a driving license or passport.
Providing added peace of mind to retailers, the digital Age Proof cards offer much greater security from fraud, unlike physical ID cards which are routinely forged.
Age Proof cards can be accessed via a smartphone app and harness QR technology to provide real-time verification – offering speed, convenience and greater data protection to young people aged 16+ and 18+.
The 16+ digital cards provide a host of benefits, including allowing this age group to legally purchase energy drinks and over-the-counter medication such as paracetamol.
The 18+ card includes features such as the purchase of cigarettes or vapes. The only current restriction on the card is that the Licensing Act for the sale of alcohol only allows physical cards bearing the PASS hologram and logo as acceptable proof of age when purchasing alcohol.
Changes to the law are anticipated in 2024 which will add digital PASS and make it permittable to buy alcohol using Age Proof.
Moody added: “Fake ID cards, whether they be forged physical identity cards, driving licenses or even passports, have become more and more sophisticated in recent years and have proven a major headache for retailers.
Tony Allen is executive director for Age Check Certification Scheme, the world’s first dedicated conformity assessment body on age assurance and the PASS-appointed independent auditors. He commented:
“The Luciditi Age Proof system has been subject to a rigorous audit to the published PASS standards, including ensuring security, privacy, accuracy and the inclusion of anti-fraud measures.
“It’s also a significant boost to the retail sector and is a precursor to enhanced automation, with work already underway to establish a universal transaction method across all retailers that avoids consumers needing multiple apps to verify their age.
“The implementation of digital verification technology across all self-checkouts and electronic point of sale (EPOS) systems will be key to this and is expected to be rolled out as soon as the Home Office complete its forthcoming consultation on digitally enhanced transactions for alcohol.”
To coincide with the launch of Age Proof, Luciditi is inviting one thousand 16–25-year-olds to receive a free digital card in return for their feedback. The company is also working with Serve Legal to roll-out a testing programme on products such as vapes, energy drinks and gambling scratch cards across retailers ranging from supermarkets to convenience stores.