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The cards carry standard information (full name, date of birth, photograph) and the PASS hologram which is the hallmark of a PASS accredited. Free training cards are available to help with recognition of the PASS hologram.

Visuals of all PASS accredited cards can be found within the section entitled Information for Young People.

In order to ensure that due diligence has been followed, PASS encourages that the following checks are made when checking PASS cards:

1. Check the PASS hologram. Is it genuine (as above)
2. Check the photograph. Does it match the person in front of you?
3. Check the Date of Birth. Make sure that the person is old enough to make the purchase (e.g. 18+ for alcohol, tobacco)
4. Check the card. Make sure it has not been tampered with.
5. Check the person. Are you satisfied?

There is understandable concern about fake ID and novelty cards which can be easily purchased over the internet. There are plenty of fake cards around but one thing they have in common is that they don’t carry the PASS logo. The unique PASS hologram is trademark registered, which makes unauthorised use of the logo a criminal offence. Trading standards officers regularly carry out test purchases of internet sites offering novelty cards and to date have not found any evidence of fake PASS cards being offered via such sites.

Points for you to note

• Nobody has ever been prosecuted for accepting a card containing a PASS hologram
• Virtually every failed test purchase is a failure to ask for proof of age, not an acceptance of a false card
• Asking for and accepting a card with a PASS hologram with the correct photo and date of birth is due diligence, as advised by the Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Trading Standards Institute
• One third of 18 and 19 year olds don’t have either passport or driving licence so a PASS card may be their only form of ID. Why turn away legitimate custoM

The PASS scheme is actively encouraged and supported by all the major trade associations, including the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA), the British Retail Consortium (BRC), the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR), the BII, NOCTIS and the National Pubwatch Scheme. Acceptance of PASS cards is furthermore promoted as part of the Challenge 21 and Challenge 25 schemes.

The PASS hologram is very distinctive and to date we have found no evidence of fake cards bearing the PASS hologram. The logo is a registered Trademark and anyone trying to pass a hologram or logo off as PASS will be pursued and prosecuted, as they will be committing a criminal offence. Trading standards officers and the PASS Secretariat regularly check sites selling "novelty" cards to ensure that they do not offer cards with the PASS hologram.