PUBS NOW ACCEPT DIGITAL ID FOR AGE VERIFICATION

The new laws permit pubs, bars, off-licences, nightclubs and restaurants to implement biometric scanning systems for age checks. Customers download software that scans their faces to create verifiable QR codes on their devices. Traditional plastic ID cards remain accepted, giving venues flexibility in verification methods. The shift aims to streamline age-checking processes that have long relied on manual document inspection. The technology addresses concerns about fake IDs while offering faster entry for customers. Venues can now choose between conventional ID checks and the new digital system, though biometric scanning represents a significant modernization of how bars and pubs verify customer age. The rollout begins this week as the legal framework takes effect across England and Wales.