Proof of Age card: useful/alternatives?

[Sioned11]

DS wants a proof of age for when he goes to uni. Doesn't have a provisional driving license & there are of course problems with carrying a passport around. Doesn't anticipate much drinking but understandably wants to be able to muck in with new hall mates.

Presently, looking into the different companies (we don't live in an area with its own system) and see wildly different costs for a fast track application. Civilian card appears to be cheapest but no phone number for checking & a bit of a rum reputation on The Student Room.

Any tips? One thing that concerns me is PoA companies selling details to companies - perhaps that's inevitable but again perhaps some are more careful with the data they store?

And, finally, I've read that these cards aren't all they're cracked up to be and that some places prefer passports or (provisional) driving licenses. Is that right? DS doesn't intend learning to drive just yet so forking out for a provisional license seems a bit odd - or is that the way to go?

Many thanks!

Wouldn't a university student union card be accepted in most places? I realise you can go to university before you are 18 but its rare.
An EHIC card has a date of birth on so carrying both I would imagine should be ok. University card has the name and photo and EHIC matches the same name with a date of birth.

Many lifetimes ago, I kept a photocopy of my passport in my purse but never got asked for it and was still able to get away with paying a child's fare on the bus at the time.

I think driving licence is the way to go. It is universally accepted and you don't need to worry about dodgy companies selling your data. And since he doesn't need it for its primary purpose, it doesn't really matter if/when he loses it!

I realise you can go to university before you are 18 but its rare.
An EHIC card has a date of birth on so carrying both I would imagine should be ok.

No pub is going to accept that if they want to keep their license. They're both trivially forgeable and a doorman has no particular reason to know what either looks like. The SIA guidance is that if it isn't a PASS card with the PASS hologram it doesn't exist.

That means Citizencard or ValidateUK, or a driving licence.

Another vote for a provisional licence for all the reasons Senua says.

Many thanks, all, for your helpful responses. I think we will go with the provisional licence though I wonder how long an on-line application for one takes to come through?

The one day turn arounds for PASS cards cost as much as a provisional which, arguably, could be a better investment in the long-run.

Talking of turn around times - had to renew DS3's passport earlier this week for student finance purposes (hadn't realised that it had lapsed) - the Passport Office received the declaration and old passport on Tuesday and today we had a text to say that's been dispatched. Might be useful for some to know that, according to the PO, it's a quiet period and passports are coming in as little time as a week or so, meaning that the pricey one day/one week service may not be necessary.

Was in a pub with older DS this weekend - he had no ID so couldn't get a drink. I'd have happily got him one but had to admire the staff member's resolve - no ID, no drink.

I wonder how long an on-line application for one takes to come through?

A few days, usually. Both my children's came back within less than a week.

Thanks Bolograph. That's encouraging. Will set to.

I've just asked my DC and they all say that a provisional driving licence is the way to go.

If you have a passport, the online application for a driving license definitely comes through in well under a week.

£34. It's the way to go.

Ha! X post

DS uses his passport all the time but is going to get a provisional driving licence as he's bothered about losing the passport.