Publicans' calls for a national ID card received a boost last week when a major industry association backed its introduction.
The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) believes the introduction of an ID card would help licensees determine exactly who is old enough to drink.
The card would prevent them from breaking the law by unwittingly selling to under-18s.
Earlier this month, the Local Government Association pressed the government to clarify its proposals for a voluntary ID card and the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations has also shown its support for the idea.
The ALMR proposes that the card should have a personal number etched on it for employment purposes. And it also said that the launch should be backed with a public information campaign, reminding young people that it is an offence to attempt to buy alcohol while underage.
The ALMR said a national ID card would:
- enable licensees to establish a customer's age and entitlement to buy alcohol. This would provide a sound basis on which to make difficult decisions
- meet the requirements of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 which imposed a "positive duty" on retailers to determine a person's age before making a sale
- contribute to the government's policy of reducing underage consumption and would prevent young people from committing the offence of buying alcohol while underage.
Related articles:
Clarify proposals for national ID card, says LGA (10 February 2003)
PASS scheme will help pubs to cut underage drinking (23 January 2003)