ACS

Britain's new identity card has been unveiled by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.

The plastic card, which will be issued to foreign citizens in Britain starting in November, marks the first stage in the Government's ambitious scheme to issue biometric ID cards to all UK residents.

Each card, which will cost £30, carries unique biometric data in the form of a photograph and the individual's fingerprints stored digitally.

The Home Secretary said up to 60,000 cards will be distributed by next March to non-EU foreign citizens resident in Britain as they renew their visas. These cards will be compulsory.

Ministers hope the first cards for British citizens, featuring a slightly different design, will be issued next year.

From 2010 the Government will encourage all young Britons to apply for a card on a voluntary basis, extending the scheme to all citizens and foreign residents from 2011.

ACS Chief Executive, James Lowman said: "A national ID card adds another proof of age card into the population. Over time retailers are likely to become accustomed to seeing ID cards when testing underage sales. Retailers continue to face the challenge of preventing underage sales every day and the ID card is not going to make a difference in the short term.

“Separate from the rollout of ID cards, Government can and should do more to encourage young people to carry and show ID when making age restricted purchases.”