Buying alcohol
You have to be 18 years old or over to buy alcohol. If you’re under 18 it’s against the law for you to try to buy alcohol and for shops to sell it to you.
If you’re 18 or over then it’s against the law for you to buy or try to buy alcohol for someone who is under 18.
Drinking alcohol
It’s illegal for children under five to drink alcohol. If you’re aged 5-18 then you can legally drink at home, at a friend’s house, or on private properties.
When it comes to pubs, young people under 14 can go to a pub that has a children’s certificate, but it must be with an adult and you have to stay in the family area. You can’t drink alcohol. If you’re under 16 then you can go into the pub with an adult, you’re still not allowed to drink.
If you’re 16 or 17 then you can go to a pub with an adult and drink alcohol with a meal.
Only people over 18 can drink in public, although there are some alcohol free-zones. If you’re caught drinking then the police can confiscate your alcohol.
Drink driving
The legal limit for drivers in the UK is 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood. It isn’t possible to say exactly how much you could drink and still be within the legal limit. There are some many different factors that affect how your body processes alcohol. So, it is safer just to avoid drinking then driving altogether.
If you get caught over the limit then you will be banned from the road for at least 12 months and fined up to £5,000. You can also be sent to prison for up to six months.
Social