Scotland - Identification

Further to our news update on 14 March 2013, we confirm that the Scottish Government has announced that Regulations changing the acceptable forms of ID for alcohol will be laid in the Scottish Parliament shortly. The changes will come into force on 1 October 2013.

At present, the documents which can be used as proof of age are:

• a passport;
• an EU photocard driving licence; and
• for alcohol - a photographic identity card approved by the British Retail Consortium for the purposes of its Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS Card); and
• for tobacco and sunbeds - a photographic identity card bearing the national Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram.

Following recent changes to UK Government policy and the introduction of UK legislation, the Scottish Government proposed amending proof of age requirements to extend the list of documents which provide a defence to retailers when selling, or allowing the use of, certain age restricted products.

The products referred to in the consultation document were the:

• sale of alcohol;
• sale of tobacco products;
• sale, use and hire of sunbeds; and
• sale of solvent based products.

The new forms of ID the Scottish Government are to add are as follows:

1. Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card);
2. Biometric Residents Permit; and
3. National identity card issued by an EU member state, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland.