The new rules come into force on October 1 as part of the Mandatory Code on alcohol retail, introduced by the previous Government. They require that:

All licensed premises must have an age verification policy in place that ensures anyone who appears to staff to be under 18 is asked to show photographic ID with their date of birth and a holographic mark on it before they are served alcohol

All licensed premises must provide and make customers aware of (on menus or when ordering) the following measures:

Still wine in a glass: 125 ml
Gin, rum, vodka and whisky: 25 ml or 35 ml (depending on the measure you normally serve)
Beer and cider: half a pint

The possibility of scrapping the Mandatory Code is among the options being considered as part of the Coalition Government's current consultation on licensing.

However officials have indicated there is more pressure to reconsider the age verification requirement due to the high associated compliance costs, than to revisit the issue of small drink measures.

In the meantime both new rules will come into force on October 1 as originally planned and guidance on these conditions will be issued nearer the time.

WSTA chief executive Jeremy Beadles said: "It's vital businesses are aware of these changes and ready to comply when they come into force.  I'd also urge businesses, which want to see Mandatory Code conditions affecting them overturned, to respond directly to the Government's licensing consultation with evidence of the cost imposed on their business."

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