legal drinking age?

Question

just wondered what all the laws surrounding drinking in the uk are and drinking age limits. Also are there anylaws about posession of alcohol

Answer 1

UK Law consumption of alchohol is 18 years of age, although a majority of places selling alchohol operate a RU21 scheme in that those who look under 21 will be ID'd and may be refused service.
However under the legislation you may when dining in a restaurant consume wine or cider with the meal obviously in the company of an adult.
With regads to posession of alchohol most towns/cites have by-laws prohibiting drinking on the street and the police have powers under PACE to confiscate and destroy any alchohol in the posession of a minor.
the guide line is thus:
under 5 may only be given alcohol on medical order - Children and Young Person's Act of 1933
5 and over may consume alcohol, e.g. at home. It is only illegal for those aged 5-18 to drink alcohol on licensed premises (without meeting other licensing requirements)
under 14 may not be present in the bar of licensed premises unless accompanied by a person over 28, it is before 9pm and a children - Licensing Act of 1964, Deregulation and Contracting Out Act of 1994
14 and over, may be in the bar of licensed premises during permitted hours at licensee's discretion - ,Licensing Act 1964.
under 16 may be present in a restaraunt etc where alcohol is served with a meal and at the licensee's discretion may consume (but not purchase) alcohol bought by a parent or guardian
16 and over, may purchase beer, porter, cider, or perry with a meal in an eating area on licensed premises (In Scotland wine also) - Licensing Act of 1964.
under 18, may not purchase or be supplied with or consume alcohol in a bar
under 18 police have powers to confiscate alcohol from under 18s drinking in public and to contact their parents - Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act of 1997.
under 18, Licensees and staff of licensed premises have a positive duty not to sell alcohol unless they are reasonably certain that the purchaser is not under the age of 18. The legal obstruction to test purchasing under the supervision of police or insperctors of weights and measures is removed. Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001
16-18 May not be employed in bar of a licensed premises, unless as part of a Modern Apprenticeship Scheme Licensing Act 1997

Hope this answers your question.

Answer 2

law is you cant buy alcohol at a bar under 18.at 16 you can buy beer or wine to accompany a meal as long as its not at a bar. and, crazy as it sounds, children over 5 can consume some alcohol at home with their parents permission. some pubs or bars are over 21s etc but that discretion of the management. you can get into trouble for buying people underage alcohol in a bar. you can also be fined for drinking in some public areas - theres normally a sign up tho, theres one near my house!!

Answer 3

To go to a bar and order a drink you must be 18. If you are sitting in a restaurant and they do table service, you are allowed by law to order youself beer, when the meal is over and you go to the bar area and try to order youself a drink , you will be refused, so 16 & 17 year olds need to be sat in restaurants that do table service if they want to order their own beer.

Answer 4

18 is the age limit and in some towns and cities you cant drink in the street.
you can be refused sale of alcohol at any time.

Answer 5

18 to buy, however you can be bought a drink with a meal from the age of 16

Answer 6

United Kingdom: 18; 16 for beer or cider in restaurants; 5 in private, with adults

Answer 7

The age limit to buy & posses alcohol in a public place is 18

I believe if you are drinking in your own home there isn't a limit as such

Answer 8

18 is the legal age for buying and drinking alocholic beverages in public. You can't drink in city centres on the streets, etc. Obviously, it's illegal to drink and drive!
The trains ban drinking on trains for the times of certain footie matches; otherwise, you can buy drinks on the train. Other forms of public transport (i.e., buses) don't allow consumption of alcohol on them.

Answer 9

18 in the UK ..but they usually start at primary school.
Dunno about possession..I know u can't buy alcohol under 18 ..

Answer 10

u can have beer or wine with a parent at 16 if in a restaurant but have to be 18 to buy and if u have booze then it is OK