The UK government is making it legal to use digital ID stored on mobiles for proof of age when buying alcohol in a pub, bar or store. The new law will make it possible for landlords and retailers “to scan digital identities to verify a customer’s age without customers unnecessarily disclosing personal information like their name or address, as is often the case with driving licences,” the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology explains. “When a digital identity is presented in person, a quick programmatic check — like scanning a QR code or using NFC, the technology behind contactless bank cards which people use every day — will ensure everything is seamless and hassle free.