Cut - Off Date for Proof of Age Scams

"No, PASS no sale" will be the motto for those on the frontline in Britain’s pubs, bars and shops from 1^st September 2005.

Retailers across the UK will be saying 'no' to young people who can't prove their age with a PASS card, passport or driving licence.

PASS - the proof of age hologram available only to approved schemes -already appears on over a million cards held by young people. By September 2005 there will be around 1.5 million in issue.

From 1^st September 2005 "No PASS, no sale" will come into effect. Anybody who sells alcohol, tobacco, solvents or other age-related goods to young people without a proper check will have no defence if caught by trading standards or the police. In the meantime trade bodies will be telling their staff what to expect. The number of cards in issue will rise rapidly during the year and it will be easy for young people to adapt.

PASS is a national voluntary scheme for auditing and approving cards for proof-of-age purposes. All the major card schemes in the UK have applied for accreditation, been audited by trading standards and are now issuing their cards complete with the card hologram, designed to make forgery exceptionally difficult. The major schemes are Citizencard, Connexions, Prove-it, Validate and Young Scot.

Robert Humphreys, Chairman of the PASS board said: "1^st September 2005 is an important date for frontline staff in shops, bars and clubs and the teenagers they serve. PASS is helping drive out forgeries and protect retail staff from the risk of prosecution. It is endorsed by the Home Office, The Trading Standards Institute, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and lead trade bodies. I am confident that this single national system of accreditation will make it easier for retailers and their staff to stay within the law."

Notes to Editors:

PASS is a voluntary proof of age card scheme which is making rapid progress and is recognised by the Home Office, (ACPO,) Trading Standards, local authorities, major retailers and hospitality/leisure trade associations across the UK.

The Proof of Age Standards Scheme came into being two years ago in January 2003, co-launched by Home Office and Education ministers. It is a voluntary scheme with an unpaid board and established as a company limited by guarantee.