Best Bar None and National Pub Watch have put together a comprehensive document training our members on how to check for IDs. This can be used amongst staff to acknowledge that they have taken it upon themselves to train the best approaches for checking IDs in the premises.

Download a PDF copy that you can use for your files here

Expected Standards

There are 4 licensing objectives of equal importance:

• The prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• The prevention of public nuisance
• The protection of children from harm

Only original ID is acceptable, do not accept photocopies/images/apps on phones or out of date ID.

Feel

• Have the person remove ID from their wallet or plastic holder.
• Feel for information cut out or pasted on.
• Feel for peeling holograms
• Feel Does any lettering or security feature scratch off?

Look

• Look for PASS hologram, or Hologram on a driving licence
• Look at the photograph. Hairstyles, eye makeup, and eye colour can be altered, so focus your attention on nose and chin. These features do not change. When encountering people with beards or facial hair, cover the facial hair part of the photograph and concentrate on the nose and ears.
• Look at the date of birth and do the math’s … Pre-printed age charts can be helpful.
• Compare the age on the ID with the person’s apparent age. For example, if the ID says the person is 24 but he or she only looks 17, do not accept the ID no matter how genuine it looks.
• Look for the expiration date, if it has expired do not accept it.
• Do not be fooled by UV markings – many fake IDs have UV markings.

Ask

• Ask questions of the customer, such as their middle name, zodiac sign, birth month. If the person responds with a number, he or she is probably lying.
• If the customer is with a companion, Ask the companion to quickly tell you their companion’s name. Any hesitation probably indicates lying.
• Ask the customer to sign his or her name to compare signatures.
• Ask for another form of ID – bank card etc. to corroborate and Photo ID presented.

Refuse Sale

Giving the benefit of the doubt IS NOT AN OPTION. If in doubt ………. refuse the sale.

Entry in refusal register

Make an entry in your refusal register / EPOS system on your till.

• Time
• Date
• Name/description
• Product attempted to purchase
• Staff member details making refusal