Latest on Digital ID

This morning the air waves have been full of interviews as to the introduction of Digital ID, which has been a point of interest for hospitality for some time in relation to having a more secure method for assessing the age of customers who seek to purchase alcohol and other age restricted goods.

The emphasis by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy in various interviews is the benefits to be gained in relation to proof to right to work, and it would appear that there will be no physical card issued and it may be that you do not even have to “carry” the digital version as the key element is the registration on the government database.

In the interview with Radio 4 Nandy made various points

• The introduction was an "important measure" to "help us tackle the illegal economy".
• It will be compulsory to have a digital ID on the government database, it won't be a requirement to have it on a mobile phone.
• "It's a much more rigid system," stating , national insurance number - which currently evidences right to work in the UK – is not linked to any kind of photo ID, "so it's far easier to pass off someone else's national insurance number as your own".
• Digital ID will not need to be shown to get benefits or access the NHS.

Thus far there has been no mention of other legislation which may be impacted or sales of alcohol, clearly this is an evolving piece of policy and the legislation may look very different to the answers and explanations offered today.