Tag: Hospitality

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Latest News Legislation

Ban on Energy drinks to under 16’s in England from April 27

Energy drinks display
Energy drinks display

England’s upcoming ban on selling high‑caffeine energy drinks to under‑16s is about to reshape everyday retail operations. With legislation being revived to prohibit sales of drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre, retailers will soon need to treat energy drinks the same way they treat alcohol and other age‑restricted products.

For many stores, this means new training, new signage, and critically, a reliable way to verify age at checkout.

This is where digital proof‑of‑age becomes a game‑changer.

Digital age assurance allows customers to prove they’re over 16 using secure, privacy‑preserving digital credentials. No need for physical ID, no slowing down queues, and no awkward interactions for staff. Retailers get a consistent, auditable compliance pathway whether in‑store, at self‑checkout, or online.

With larger supermarkets already operating voluntary bans and mandatory rules now on the horizon, adopting digital proof‑of‑age helps retailers:

* Reduce friction at checkout

* Strengthen compliance and reduce risk

* Support staff with clear, automated age‑verification signals

* Prepare for future digital‑first regulation across other product categories

Critical detail retailers must be aware of:

To legally accept digital proof‑of‑age, retailers must have a contract with a certified Digital Verification Service Provider (DVSP). This ensures the digital credential is validated against a trusted, audited service, giving retailers confidence that the age signal they receive is compliant, reliable and defensible.

With mandatory rules on the horizon, partnering with a DVS provider not only enables retailers to meet energy‑drink age‑restriction requirements but also:

* The Generational Smoking Ban for tobacco from January 2027 (UK wide)

* Digital Proof of Age during alcohol purchases from October 2026 (England and Wales)

Want to know more?

If you’re exploring how digital proof‑of‑age and DVS integration can support your compliance strategy, Contact us and we’d be delighted to help.

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Other News Technology

Built-in: Proof of Age tech for Retail and Hospitality Apps

Luciditi release the first in-person proof of age as a ‘component’ for Retailer and Hospitality consumer apps in the UK.

As the UK prepares to update its Mandatory Licensing Conditions (MLC) later this year, those in retail, hospitality, pubs and bars face a clear challenge on how to benefit from changes to in-store age checks, using digital proof for alcohol sales.

Manual ID checks are a known source of friction, frustrating customers, placing staff in difficult situations, and increasing the risk of underage sales. With the unlocking of Digital ID by the UK’s Data (use and access) Act, the necessary update to Mandatory Licensing Conditions (MLC) will – finally – recognise digital proof of age for alcohol purchases.

This shift presents alcohol selling brick-and-mortar outlets with a clear choice: navigate the transition or lead it. For some it’s a chance to enhance customer experience and position their brand at the forefront of responsible innovation.

In response to these changes, Luciditi developed the “AgeProof SDK” – a proof of age issuing ‘component’ – the first of its kind in the UK market. It enables anyone with an existing customer app to add in-person digital proof of age capability with minimal effort.

Philip Young, CTO and Co-founder of Luciditi, said:

“For those who this appeals to, there’s no need to become digital identity experts or rebuild tech to offer mobile proof of age. By adding the AgeProof SDK they can immediately enhance their apps’ utility and see the benefit at the checkout as soon as the guidance allows”.

“This first-of-its-kind solution will be categorised as a ‘Component Service’ role on the DIATF register. Luciditi acts as the ‘underpinning service’ so there’s no initial or ongoing compliance overhead – we take care of that. End-customers will benefit from an easy way to prove their age using a familiar app they already trust.”

While the legal framework hasn’t changed since 2014, the Home Office guidance update is prompting early adopters to prepare for launch in time for the most significant operational shift in alcohol licensing in over a decade.

Want to know more?

Luciditi technology can help organisations implement Digital Identity and Age Proofing Technology for online and in person use cases. If you would like to know how, Contact us for a chat today.

Get in touch