Alcohol and the Law
It is against the law:
- to be drunk in charge of a child under seven in a public place or on licensed premises
- to sell alcohol to someone under 18, anywhere
- for an adult to buy or attempt to buy alcohol on behalf of someone under 18
- for someone under 18 to buy alcohol, attempt to buy alcohol or to be sold alcohol in any circumstances (unless acting at the request of the police or a weights and measures inspector)
- for someone under 18 to drink alcohol in licensed premises, with one exception - 16 and 17 year olds accompanied by an adult can drink but not buy beer, wine and cider with a table meal
- for an adult to buy alcohol for a person under 18 for consumption on licensed premises, except as above
Drinking at home
It is not illegal for a person under 18 to drink alcohol at home or at a friend’s house.
Drinking in public
Police have the power to take away alcohol and/or move young people on if they have been drinking. They can also fine or arrest them. Some towns have alcohol zones where it is illegal to drink in public regardless of your age.
Drink driving
Anyone who drives or attempts to drive after they’ve been drinking alcohol could face a driving ban, a large fine or even a prison sentence. It is illegal to drive while ‘unfit’ to do so. The law defines ‘unfit’ as having:
- over 80 milligrams (mg) of alcohol per 100 millilitres (ml) of blood
- over 35 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of breath
- over 107 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of urine
The police can stop anyone if they think they are ‘unfit’ to drive. If stopped, the driver will be asked to take a breathalyser test to measure the amount of alcohol in their breath. If the test is positive the driver is arrested and taken to a police station for further tests – possibly involving blood and urine. It is illegal to refuse to give a sample when asked.
The penalties for drink driving
Anyone convicted of drink driving will be disqualified from driving for at least 12 months and fined up to £5,000. They can also face a prison sentence of six months.
Being 'drunk in charge' of a vehicle
If someone is over the alcohol limit, they can be arrested for simply having the car keys on them and their car nearby. They don’t actually have to be driving or even attempting to drive!
There is no legal definition for being ‘in charge’ of a vehicle, but it could be:
- sleeping in a car while over the limit and in possession of the keys
- supervising another driver while over the limit (eg. if the driver only has a provisional licence)