EXCLUSIVE John Wood Years of intense retailer lobbying have finally won approval for a government proof of age card which will be issued to school students when they reach 16. Retailers have won a crucial concession from the Department for Education and Skills which will be issuing free Connexions Cards to school pupils in England. The primary function is connected with education and training, but the DFES has agreed to include on the cards a picture of the holder and date of birth, enabling it to be used for proof of age. The card will be trialled in Darlington in the autumn with a roll out across the rest of Engand from January. The design is under wraps, but it will be credit card size. Andrew Chevis, director of the CitizenCard proof of age scheme, described the move as "a huge breakthrough". The DFES has set up a proof of age stakeholder group, chaired by Chevis, with a remit to promote the card to retailers. Chevis said the Connexions Card was voluntary, but it was expected that half of all 16 to 19-year-olds would have one by the end of next year. He said it would be the largest smartcard scheme in Europe, with one million cards issued during 2002, and about 250,000 a year after that. Chevis said CitizenCard would continue to operate in tandem with the new card, and there were now more than 200,000 in circulation. Association of Convenience Stores' public affairs manager James Lowman said: "The Connexions Card is by far the furthest the government has come in respect of supporting retailers over proof of age. "This means a far higher proportion of young people will carry proof of age and enable retailers to operate no proof, no sale'." He said the pressure on retailers was becoming more intense with the Criminal Justice and Police Bill removing due diligence as a defence. {{NEWS }}