Did you know...
- Underage drinking on the streets is an illegal act. If you get caught you can be fined £50 on the spot!
- No person may buy or attempt to buy intoxicating liquor for consumption in a bar by a person under the age of 18. Attempting to do so can incur a maximum fine of up to £1,000
- There are lots of laws around drinking, and it can get a little confusing. Often people can be breaking the law about alcohol, without even realising!
So here's exactly what you can and can't do to stay inside the law.
It's illegal to...
- Give alcohol to children under 5
- Be in a pub or bar (including beer gardens) under the age of 14, unless they have a licensed ‘family rooms’
- Buy alcohol from anywhere if you're under 18
- Buy alcohol for mates who are under 18
- Allow under 18's to consume alcohol when working in a licensed premise (e.g. at an off license, supermarket or restaurant)
- Sell alcohol you've made at home (but it’s not illegal to make it)
- Sell alcohol to anyone under age. The actual seller (sales assistant), the licensee and the company can all be fined which may result in a fine of up to £5,000. It may also lead to the licensee losing their license.
It's legal....
- To enter a bar or pub but only if the landlord agrees and if you drink soft drinks, if you are 14 or over
- To be bought beer or cider with a meal, if you are over 16
- To drink alcohol at home
- To ask any customer for proof of age, and refuse to serve alcohol if proof of age is not provided. The Citizen Card is approved under the government's proof of age standards scheme (PASS) and is free of charge to all pupils or students who live or attend full-time school or college
- For a Police Officer to confiscate alcohol from under 18s to help reduce the incidence of under age drinking and associated nuisance in public places.
