Post Office welcomes Government announcement on acceptance of digital proof of age

On 30 June 2026, the UK Government announced changes to the Mandatory Licensing Conditions that will permit the use of certified and registered Digital Verification Services (DVS) for the sale and supply of alcohol in England and Wales, where certain conditions are met.

Post Office welcomes the UK government’s decision as an important step forward that reflects how customers increasingly want to access services and prove their age and ID in a simple, secure and privacy-preserving way.

Subject to Parliamentary procedure, this change will let people use the Yoti and Post Office EasyID apps for proof of age for alcohol from Autumn 2026. Only digital ID apps provided by certified and registered Digital Verification Services (DVS) will be accepted. Both the free Yoti (a partner of the Post Office) and Post Office EasyID apps already meet these requirements.

Jason Sheehy, Post Office Head of Identity, said:

“For our postmasters and other retailers, this change will provide a trusted and efficient way to verify age, helping to reduce queues, increase confidence in compliance and ease the pressure on frontline staff. By using certified digital ID tools, postmasters can quickly confirm a customer’s age without handling or storing unnecessary personal data.

“For our customers, including millions already using Post Office EasyID & Yoti ID, it offers a convenient alternative to carrying physical documents, while giving them greater control over their personal information.

“We’re proud that Post Office EasyID already meets the government’s high standards and that we can support our postmasters, retailers and customers in adopting a modern, secure approach to proof of age and ID.”

Yoti and Post Office EasyID give consumers a quick and privacy-preserving way to prove their age. Over 8m people in the UK have downloaded one of the digital ID apps already and thousands of individuals download Yoti and EasyID every day.

Robin Tombs, CEO of Yoti, said:

“The acceptance of Digital IDs for alcohol sales is a major milestone for the UK. This will transform how people prove their age at licensed premises including supermarkets, convenience stores, bars, pubs and nightclubs. We’ve been working towards this for years. When we started Yoti in 2014, young adults told us they wanted to use our app at the supermarket and on nights out. We’re excited this will soon become a reality.

“With our Digital ID app for customers and ID Checker app for businesses, we're setting a new standard for age checks in the digital age. This technology will empower businesses to confidently accept digital IDs, ensuring compliance while improving the customer experience.

“People should be able to prove their age without revealing any other personal information, and Yoti digital proof of age makes that possible. We welcome these changes, which will give licensed businesses a trusted way to verify age while offering millions of individuals a faster and more convenient experience.”

For further information, visit https://www.postoffice.co.uk/identity/easyid