Being turned away from a 15- or 18-rated movie due to a lack of proper identification may be a thing of the past.
The UK Cinema Association, which includes Cineworld, Odeon, Showcase Cinemas, and Vue, has teamed up with Yoti, a digital ID company.
The free app will be accepted as proof of age, making it a safe and easy way to prove your age.
It is believed that the action will also address abuse directed at cinema employees.
Yoti uses the same technology that is used at airports to scan your passport and take a picture of your face.
To use the Yoti ID, children will need a smartphone to download the free software and enter information from their passport as well as a recent photograph.
The age-verified image on the digital ID card will then be shown for the cinema staff to approve.
According to Phil Clapp, CEO of the UK Cinema Association, “approximately 30% of the 165 million to 170 million admissions per year UK cinemas were witnessing pre-pandemic fall within the 15-24-year-old bracket and over 20% fall within the 9–14-year-old bracket.”
“For many people who want to attend a 15 or even 18-rated film, proving their age without a passport or driver’s licence can be quite difficult, and it’s understandable if they’re turned away from the theatre.”
Yoti’s apps have been downloaded over 11 million times worldwide and are already used by a variety of organisations, including the NHS, Virgin Atlantic, and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
“We’re happy to have many UK Cinema Association members join the 30,000 locations on the UK high street accepting our reusable digital ID apps,” said Robin Tombs, CEO and Co-founder of Yoti.
“Young people expect to be able to accomplish anything with their phones, including proving their age. It’s a win-win situation for both movie theatres and young moviegoers.”
