A soldier is “disappointed” that a pub refused to accept military ID when she and her fellow army fiance tried to order a couple of beers.

Private Amber Marie Cornwell said troops “deserve more respect” after the incident at her mother’s local, The Paris House pub in Western Road, Brighton.

She and her finance, Private Paul John Peacock, 21, left after failing to persuade bar staff they can accept the ID – as per Home Office guidance.

The 20-year-old, who is based with the Royal Logistics Operations in Rutland and was visiting her mother at the time, said: “It ruined our day a little bit. We were having a nice day, we had gone to get some lunch and then mum said we would go to a nice little pub.

“So we sat down and went to the bar to order two beers and they refused us and said they did not accept military ID. So we just left – it was not very nice.

“It was quite disappointing really; we are in Britain and it is British military ID. I use it everywhere. I do think soldiers deserve more respect.”

Home Office guidance, available online, states that licensed premises can accept military ID as proof of age.

Carlie Norbury, one of the managers at the pub, said staff acted in line with pub policy to accept only passports and driving licences.

She said that policy was in line with what they understood to be authorities’ advice, but had reviewed matters in light of the incident.

She said: “Since this happened we have been looking into it just to know exactly what the law is. “I think in the past it was not acceptable but I think it is now. This should not be a problem now.”

Ms Norbury added that only Mr Peacock produced his ID.

Private Cornwell and her mother, however, disagreed with this statement and said they both showed their credentials.

Private Cornwell’s mother, Melanie Joseph, said: “I think it’s unfair to refuse to serve somebody because they have military ID.

“I specialise in working with bars and restaurants.

“If they are not aware of the rules, then they should be.”

MILITARY ID AS PROOF OF AGE

Following a campaign led by ex-Coldstream Guard Lance Reah in 2011, the Ministry of Defence allowed service personnel to use their service identity card as proof of age – MP Andrew Robathan, parliamentary undersecretary of state for defence at the time, told parliament the MoD had written to the relevant trade associations encouraging their members to accept it – Conservative MP David Mowat said the change would have a “big impact on the morale of our soldiers”

– Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said at the time: “It is only right that the ID of our armed forces should be acceptable as proof-of-age.”