Opposition MPs have launched a campaign calling on the government to scrap plans to introduce national ID cards.
The Conservatives have launched a petition demanding the scheme be axed and that money is instead spent on increasing police patrols and prison places.
The calls have met a mixed reaction from c-store retailers, many of whom believe the ID cards will help reduce attempts to purchase age-restricted products illegally.
But retailers also expressed concern over the spiralling cost of introducing the ID scheme.
Retailer Sunny Gill owns a Premier store in Little Heath, Coventry. He said: "I'm definitely for ID cards because I think they would act as a form of protection for retailers - they would hopefully stop some of the teenagers from trying it on. I understand these things cost money, but it does seem to be a lot with this scheme.
"More money should be spent on police and community support officers."