The Home Office has confirmed that it will make identity cards available to 16- to 24-year-olds in the capital early next year.
The offices of the Identity and Passport Service near London's Victoria Station will be open for people in the specified age range to register for a voluntary identity card.
"One of the many benefits of ID cards is being able to verify your age as 16 or over," said a spokesperson for the Home Office.
The Home Office has not formally announced the extension of the scheme, but the spokesperson said home secretary Alan Johnson "mentioned" the move during an interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on 20 December, 2009.
Asked about the expected take up of the cards by youngsters in London, the spokesperson said he would not like to comment beyond saying that since October 2009, 1,500 identity cards have been issued.
"It is unclear what would be the benefit for young people to spend £30 if bars, shops and other premises do not have biometric scanners to verify their age," commented Philippe Martin, a senior Kable analyst.
"The advantage of the identity card over a student card, a driving licence or most passports is the biometric element. Until scanners are widely distributed to establishments needing this level of identification, the card is worthless."
The Conservative Party has pledged to abolish identity cards if elected to government. A general election is due by June 2010 at the latest.
