Digital Identification for Alcohol Purchases

However, although the law has changed, the Government app that will be used to store digital identification is still being developed and the launch date is yet to be announced.  This gives businesses time to develop policies and train their employees on the use of digital identifications

What has changed?

The Sale and Supply of Alcohol Amendment Regulations 2026 expands the list of approved evidence of age to include certain digital identity credentials. To qualify, a digital ID must:

• Be issued by an accredited digital identity service;
• Include a photograph of the holder;
• Include the holder’s age or date of birth; and
• Meet defined assurance standards under the Digital Identity Services Trust Framework.

It is expected that the previous legal forms of identification (NZ Driver’s Licences, the Digital Kiwi Access Card and Passports) will be able to be uploaded to the digital wallet in the Govt.nz app and be able to be used to prove age.

What this means in practice

• Approved digital credentials will be able to be used in the same way as a driver licence, passport or Kiwi Access Card.  However, instead of seeing the physical document you will view it on a device.
• Licensees can choose whether to accept digital ID. Some may prefer a cautious approach initially.
• Your legal responsibilities remain unchanged.  Licensees must still be satisfied as to age and must not sell alcohol to minors, regardless of whether ID is digital or physical.
• Adoption will likely be uneven.  We expect that initially, some venues will accept digital ID and others will not, depending on confidence, systems and training.

What licensees should do now

With this option soon to become available we suggest that licensees consider the following:

Decide your position

• Will you accept digital ID?
• If not, ensure staff know your policy and apply it consistently.

Update policies

• Review your host responsibility policy and ID verification procedures.
• Clearly specify which forms of ID are accepted.

Train your team

• Brief staff on the change.
• Ensure they understand what an eligible digital credential looks like.
• Reinforce: if unsure, do not accept the ID.

Review your processes

• Consider how digital ID will be checked in practice.
• Ensure staff apply the same level of scrutiny as for physical ID.

Take a risk-based approach

• Recognise that liability remains unchanged.  A sale to a minor is a serious infringement of the Act and you do not want to put your licence at risk.
• Expect a bedding-in period where caution is appropriate.

Communicate clearly

• If you adopt digital ID, consider signage or customer messaging.
• Be prepared for customer confusion during early adoption.

Like any change to the law, it is important that licensees know their obligations as the risk of breaching the Act could mean the loss of your business. Our specialist Alcohol Licensing team can provide advice on policies, training and any other licensing issues.

This article is current as at the date of publication and is only intended to provide general comments about the law. Harkness Henry accepts no responsibility for reliance by any person or organisation on the content of the article. Please contact the author of the article if you require specific advice about how the law applies to you.