When Do I Need to ID a Customer? (Challenge 25)
How the Challenge 25 policy works for licensed premises, which ID is acceptable, and why refusals should be recorded.
Under Challenge 25, if a customer buying alcohol looks under 25, ask for ID. Accept only valid photo ID (passport, photocard driving licence, or PASS-marked card), and refuse the sale if they cannot prove they are 18 or over.
Key Facts
In Detail
It is illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under 18 in the UK, and the penalties for doing so fall on both the seller and the licence holder. Challenge 25 is the widely adopted policy that helps you stay on the right side of the law: if a customer attempting to buy alcohol appears to be under 25, you must ask them to prove they are 18 or over. The age threshold for asking is set at 25, rather than 18, to give a safety margin, because judging age is difficult and people close to 18 are easily mistaken. Only accept valid, recognised photo identification. Acceptable forms include a passport, a UK photocard driving licence (full or provisional), a national identity card from an EEA country, a UK biometric residence permit, or any proof-of-age card carrying the PASS hologram. Check that the photo matches the customer, that the date of birth confirms they are 18 or over, and that the ID is genuine and not damaged or altered. If the customer cannot produce acceptable ID, or you are not satisfied, you must refuse the sale. You should also refuse if you suspect a proxy sale, where an adult is buying alcohol on behalf of someone underage. Refusing a sale is your right and your legal protection. Recording refusals in a refusals log is strongly recommended and is something licensing authorities and the police expect to see. A refusals log demonstrates that your premises operates Challenge 25 properly and supports your licence. Make sure all staff who sell alcohol are trained on the policy and on spotting fake ID.
Why Keep a Refusals Log?
A refusals log is a simple record of every time staff refuse a sale of alcohol (or other age-restricted product), noting the date, time, reason, and a description. It is not a legal requirement in itself, but it is one of the strongest pieces of evidence you can hold to show that your premises takes its licensing responsibilities seriously. If your licence is ever reviewed, or there is a test purchase operation, a well-kept refusals log demonstrates a culture of compliance and protects both the premises licence holder and individual staff. Many late-night venues record refusals digitally so the log is always available and cannot be lost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ID is acceptable for buying alcohol?
A passport, a UK photocard driving licence, an EEA national identity card, a UK biometric residence permit, or a proof-of-age card carrying the PASS hologram. Check the photo matches, the date of birth confirms they are 18 or over, and the document is genuine and undamaged.
Do I have to record refused sales?
It is not a strict legal requirement, but keeping a refusals log is strongly recommended. It demonstrates that your premises operates Challenge 25 properly and is exactly the kind of evidence the police and licensing authorities look for if your licence is reviewed.
Simplify food safety compliance
Paddl automates temperature logs, HACCP plans, SFBB records, and more - so you always have the answer when an inspector asks.