|
Scotland & Northern Ireland |
|
|
Scotland
Licensing Act 1976, as amended
| Age |
Law |
| Under 5 |
It is illegal to give alcohol to a child under 5 except under medical supervision. |
| Under 14 |
Can go into hotels, restaurants and non-bar areas of a pub, whether accompanied by an adult or not. Can enter a bar with a Children's Certificate to have a meal, accompanied by an adult, but may not drink alcohol. |
| Aged 16 or 17 |
Can buy and drink beer, wine, cider and perry at a table meal in a restuarant area. |
| Under 18 |
Cannot be given alcohol or drink alcohol in a pub except with a table meal (see above). Cannot buy or attempt to buy alcohol anywhere else. |
Note: Changes to the law in the new Licensing Act 2005 will be fully in place by Autumn 2009. Individual licensed premises will decide whether young people under 18 are allowed in. Different pubs may have different rules. Each pub's rules will be displayed in its window.
Northern Ireland
Licensing Order 1996
| Age |
Law |
| Under 14 |
It is illegal to give alcohol to a child under 14 except under medical supervision. |
| Under 18 (alone) |
Cannot enter any off-licence. Can go into hotels, restuarants and non-bar areas of a pub. Cannot buy or attempt to buy alcohol anywhere, but can drink alcohol at home. |
|
Under 18 (accompanied)
|
Can enter a bar with a Children's Certificate to have a meal, accompanied by an adult, but may not approach the bar or drink alcohol. |
Scotland & Northern Ireland
Laws
| Situation |
What can happen |
| Person under 18 buying or attempting to buy alcoholic drinks illegally. |
Police can confiscate alcholic drinks from under-18s drinking in a public place and contact their parents. |
| Adult working in a pub or shop who sells alcohol to someone who is under 18. |
If they sell alchol to someone under 18 more than once, they may have to go to court. Here they may be fined up to £5,000 and could have their alcohol licence taken away. |
To see the laws for England & Wales, please click here.
|
The Law 
