The Home Office and Office for Product Safety and Standards have issued a call for proposals from technology providers to run trials of age assurance solutions for the retail sale of alcohol.  In order to provide additional guidance and support with preparing the proposed trials, the OPSS Expert Panel on Age Restrictions has established some free webinars to support the success of the Sandbox. 

The webinars will be provided by:

• Tony Allen - Chair of the OPSS Expert Panel on Age Restrictions
• Iain Corby - Executive Director of the Age Verification Providers Association
• Dr Taybia Mohammed - Lead Scientist for the Age Check Certification Scheme

The webinars are available on a first come first served basis.  Further details and the links to book are below.

Age Verification Regulatory Sandbox - Introduction to Call for Proposals

30 March            

7 April

The introductory webinars will explain the background to the call, run through the key issues that need to be addressed by applicants and explain the process/criteria for a successful bid.

The webinars are aimed at any interested parties, technology providers, retailers, licensed hospitality, police, local authorities or those considering submitting a bid.

The webinars will include sessions on:

• The purpose of the call for proposals, policy issues and scope
• The 'art of the possible', what could be considered for trials, what technologies are out there and what ideas may be at the edge of regulation
• Preparation of evaluation and research methodology plans
• The mechanics of the call, submitting bids and the selection process

Age Verification Regulatory Sandbox - Guidance for Applicants for Trials

15 April               

29 April

These webinars will provide further detail on the call for proposals and the preparation of bids by applicants. The webinar will explain the selection criteria, arrangements between applicants and operators of licensed premises, the role of local responsible authorities, the national and local written agreement template and key issues for applicants to address in their proposal including independent evaluation.

The webinars are aimed at any technology providers, age verification providers, EPOS system providers, retailers, licensed hospitality, holders of premises or personal licences or any other interested parties in the call for proposals.

The webinars will include sessions on:

• The purpose of the call for proposals, policy issues and scope, the role of applicants and operators or licensed premises.
• Working with local responsible authorities, drafting proposals for local agreements and the template local and national agreements
• Formulating the bid documentation, understanding the selection criteria and the method of approval; including the submission of concurrent or consecutive trial ideas and planning for trial iterations
• Preparation of evaluation and research methodology plans
• The mechanics of the call, where to submit the bid, timetable and next steps.

Age Verification Regulatory Sandbox - Guidance for Responsible Authorities

15 April               

29 April

The webinar is aimed at any police licensing officers, local licensing officers, trading standards officers or other interested parties from responsible authorities under the Licensing Act 2003.

These webinars will provide further detail on the call for the role of responsible authorities, such as the local licensing authority, police and trading standards. The webinar will explain the proposed role of responsible authorities, the local written agreement template and requirements and the options available to local authorities.

The webinars will include sessions on:

• The purpose of the call for proposals, policy issues and scope, the role of responsible authorities.
• The impact of trials on the Licensing Objectives, addressing the mandatory conditions, clarity of trial purpose.
• The emerging trial ideas, the technology that is out there and the likely impact of the trials for local communities
• Preparation of evaluation and research methodology plans
• The mechanics of the call, including the preparation of local written agreements for successful bidders