The prospect of compulsory ID cards, being promoted by the government in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in the US, has been welcomed by many in the drinks industry. First Quench md Steve Headington said: "We would welcome any initiative which makes the sale of alcohol to minors more difficult. A comprehensive national ID card could only be advantageous to both retailers and consumers." Wine and Spirit Association director Quentin Rappoport also liked the idea: "For a long time we have wanted a universal proof of age card. We support the Portman Group initiative but it does not cover everyone. "It is difficult for the average retailer to know what is a valid card, particularly as there are sites on the internet where kids can download cards which look convincing. "The police are clamping down on underage selling but not offering a solution to the problem. We need some nationally recognised system." A Co-operative Group spokesman said the current debate went much wider than than the value to retailers in combating under age sales. He said it would support a Government backed proof of age scheme rather than the competing initiatives that currently existed. A spokesman for the British Retail Consortium said ID cards would only provide a limited solution to retailers' problems. He pointed out that if the card was issued at age 16 it would not help with lower age restrictions such a knives, where the age limit was 15, or 12-rated videos. The BRC is leading a new initiative to ensure retailers know which proof of age cards can be trusted, and is proposing to launch a logo which only recognised card schemes will be able to use. A working party of stakeholders has just agreed a set of standard criteria for any accredited card scheme. The standards and the new logo will be unveiled to MPs at the Commons at meetings for the all party retail group and the all party beer group. A BRC spokesman said the new scheme was not intended to supersede any existing cards, but would help retailers distinguish which cards, among the plethora in use, were valid. He added: "Every major stakeholder has signed up to this and it will become an industry standard." {{NEWS }}