National ID cards will benefit the fight against underage drinking, according to Home Secretary Alan Johnson.
From 2011-12, ID cards will roll out across the country on a voluntary basis. The Home Office said the cards would be "particularly helpful for young people who need to prove their age, and will empower businesses to ensure that they aren't selling items such as alcohol and cigarettes to those who are underage".
Johnson, said that the cards would be the most "convenient, secure and affordable way of asserting identity in everyday life".
He said: "The benefits are not just for individuals but also for communities where a reliable proof of age will be invaluable in the fight against underage drinking and young people trying to buy knives."
He also pointed out the benefits to young people, who "on average, have to prove their age more than twice as often as adults."
A recent survey by CGA for Noctis showed that two out of three late-night operators won't accept ID that features the PASS (Proof of Age Standards Scheme) hologram.