SBPA re-launches Challenge 25 campaign

The changes, which will come into effect on 1 October 2013, will mean that a Ministry of Defence identity card, national identity card issued by a European Union member state and a biometric immigration document will all be acceptable forms of ID. Passports, EU driving licences and Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) photographic identity cards are also still valid forms of ID.

However, licensees and their staff will still have the discretion to decide whether they are willing to accept any of the new forms of ID from customers when making a sale of alcohol.

Updated​

The SBPA has updated its Challenge 25 campaign posters and Guide to include the changes. The new designs also now feature a QR code, which lead customers to the Challenge 25 website where they can find out more information.

In October 2011, the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 was amended by the introduction of a new mandatory condition for all premises licences and occasional licences that states there must be an age verification policy in relation to the sale of alcohol on the premises. The condition set a minimum age of 25 years for the policy but premises may choose to set any minimum age 25 years or over.

SBPA chief executive Patrick Browne said: "We would urge operators to think now about the changes in Challenge 25 before they come into effect on 1st October and to be fully aware of them; not doing so could have implications for their licence.”

Discretionary​

The new SBPA Guide states: “It is for each business to decide which of these approved forms of identification it will accept in terms of the age verification policy.

“They need not all be accepted. It would be very prudent to exclude any type of document with which staff are not wholly familiar. Only the forms of identification acceptable to the business should be included in any declaration form signed by staff serving alcohol.”