As a 22 year old man, the annoyance I feel when I arrive at the pub after a long day at work and realizing I forgot my ID is palpable – but new government These plans could mean that I and other young people never have to go without a pint again.

The British government wants to allow people to prove their age in pubs and nightclubs using a QR code available on their account. phones.

The new plans, introduced as part of the Data (Use and Access) Bill and which are expected to be implemented by the next Christmaswill mean customers no longer have to worry about remembering their passport or driving license before heading to the pub.

With more customers now using their phones to buy products rather than cash or cards, ministers hope to make trips to the pub even easier for Brits.

The new QR code, which will be available through a yet-to-be-created app, will only indicate whether the person is old enough to purchase the chosen product, and will not include other information such as an address or date of birth.

The proposed application will use a “single sign-on” feature, as opposed to the two-step identification method used by most online systems.

Having a digital ID will not be compulsory, but the government also plans to change the licensing law to allow owners to serve beer to those who provide ID via their phone.

The changes are currently being passed by Parliament.

A government source told the Sunday hours: “The goal is to start by digitizing existing identity documents.”

Ministers would also consider integrating the new plans to include store checkout systems.

If the plans go ahead, the government hopes such changes will prevent supermarkets such as Lidl and Aldi from employing a attendant to check the age of customers when they try to buy alcohol or cigarettes.

As previously reported, the new rules will not be mandatory and, if they wish, customers will still be able to use their driver’s license, utility bills or passport to verify their age.

Recent years have been particularly difficult for the hospitality sector, with the number of pubs in the country declining significantly.

Worrying statistics have revealed that almost 3,000 UK pubs closed between 2013 and 2023 – with the number falling from 41,015 to 38,175.

COVID-19(female has had a detrimental effect on local businesses, which will have contributed to the fall in the number of British drinkers.

Struggles in the sector have led a London pub to take the decision to charge customers an extra £2 per pint after 10pm. – in a move that sparked controversy.

O’Neill’s on Wardour Street in Soho charges £7.40 for draft beers before 10pm and £9.40 after cut-off time.

This Christmas could see further problems for drinkers across the country, as Guinness announced it was suffering shortages.

Beer manufacturer Diageo has decided to limit the quantity of kegs pubs can buy due to an unprecedented surge in sales following the autumn internationals.

A pub landlord, Con Riordon, who runs the Blythe Hill Tavern in south London, said: “As we all know, parts of the industry are struggling and no amount of Guinness could cause problems for independent pubs .

“We could definitely lose customers, we’ve been here 40 years and we’ve never run out of Guinness.

“It would be a terrible stain on your reputation if you are a pub that doesn’t serve Guinness on Christmas Eve.”

However, in a rare piece of good news for the hospitality industry, the government announced a few weeks ago that it would scrap the ban on smoking in pub gardens.

The proposal was met with widespread disapproval from pub owners when it was announced this summer.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting finally told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “There are many things we can and will do in public. health which do not impact people’s freedoms and livelihoods.

“It’s no secret that British hospitality has been battered in recent years by the pandemic, and economic and financial challenges also mean there is an ongoing challenge.

“We have therefore listened to what the hospitality industry has said and we are therefore not proposing to ban outdoor hospitality at this stage.”

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