A council's attempt to encourage pubs to recognise military ID faces problems — because many venues aren't technically allowed to accept them.
Warrington Borough Council, in Cheshire, is "actively promoting" the idea that pubs should accept military ID as proof of age.
It came after a soldier
was turned away from the Friars Court in Warrington because his army ID wasn't accepted.
It has now emerged that the pub, and a number of other local bars, would break licence conditions by accepting them.
A condition at the Friars Court says only passports, driving licences, PASS-accredited cards or valid student ID can be accepted.
A council spokeswoman said: "We are aware that some premises have 'legacy' conditions set several years ago that stipulate the forms of ID to be accepted.
"We are looking to work with partners to address this issue as a priority and we have been actively promoting the acceptance of military cards as a valid form of identification.
"In the meantime, we would ask premises to be pragmatic in terms of what ID they will accept and to work with us to promote a consistent policy."
The issue was also raised last week at a Pubwatch meeting in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.
The police licensing team reminded licensees that many pubs have conditions on their licence saying only passports and driving licences are acceptable ID.
National Pubwatch committee member Frank Marnell, who attended the Shrewsbury meeting, said: "I can't understand why the pubs have to have these conditions on their licences.
"ID changes over the years and what's good today isn't necessarily so tomorrow."
The BBPA has backed calls for military ID to be accepted as proof of age in pubs.