Government seeks retailers to trial new age-verification technology

Retailers who are successful will be able to pilot new technology to improve the process of ID check during the sale of alcohol and other age-restricted items.

The Home Office and the Office for Product Safety and Standards have also issued a call for proposals from technology providers. It will enable industry and retail to test innovative approaches to age verification, such as digital ID and other products with age assurance attributes, in the specific context of the sale of alcohol under the Licensing Act 2003.

The pilots will explore how technology can strengthen current measures in place to prevent those under 18 from buying alcohol, reduce violence or abuse towards shop workers, and ensure there are robust age checks on the delivery, click-and-collect or dispatch of alcohol.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards will be hosting a series of webinars over the next two months to assist members of the industry in drafting their proposals.

Applications will be assessed by a group of experts from a range of organisations, including the Home Office, trading standards, the Office for Product Safety and Standards, and the Metropolitan police.

Tony Allen, chair of the expert panel on age restrictions and chief executive of the Age Check Certification Scheme, said: “We welcome this important initiative to properly test, evaluate and provide assurance and certification of the plethora of technologies that are emerging to help with age assurance.

“This will assist with enhancing the protection of children from harm, but also potentially reducing the levels of abuse suffered by workers in licensed premises when challenging for proof of age.

“The results of these Sandbox Trials, when independently evaluated, can help inform future policy development for the retail sale of alcohol.”

Deputy chief constable of Suffolk Constabulary and NPCC lead on alcohol harm, Rachel Kearton, said: “As the National Police Chiefs Council lead for alcohol harm reduction and licensing I know that protection of children from harm is one of the cornerstones of the Licensing Act and as such I welcome the opportunity to explore new technologies that may assist retailers in the age verification process.”

Retailers can submit their proposals to trial digital age verification technology on gov.uk. Submissions close on 31 May and successful applicants will be notified by 2 July.

Trials by successful applicants will begin in the summer and must be completed by April 2022.