Licensing laws and kids

[Terry.dixon]

Exactly what is the law relating to children in licensed premises, espaecially public houses? Or does anyone know of a web site where I can get a definitive answer.

[TheHitMaker]

children under the age of 16 are not allowed in a bar, only in a specially designated family room which does not have a bar. Children are allowed in a restaurant which is part of a pub. A 16 year old may drink alchohol as an accompanyment to a meal, but may not purchase the drink. Unaccompanied children are not allowed in licensed premises at all. Apart from with food nobody under the age of 18 can purchase or consume alchohol. Something like that anyway.

[Terry.dixon]

If children can use a restaurant as part of a pub and the pub serves meals in the bar does this qualify as a 'restaurant' under the terms of the law? i.e. can children then use a public bar to consume food while drinks are being served?

[Hamish]

Could people please say which country they are asking / talking about!!

[TheHitMaker]

Sorry Hamish - this is in England. Terry - legally, if food is served in the bar, then it is still a bar and children under sixteen are officially not allowed in - any room in which children are allowed in a pub has to not have a bar in it, although many landlords will overlook this and it is rare to find a prosecutiion. However it comes down to the landlord - he or she does not have to let anyone into their bar if they do not want to.

[gmc2002]

http://www.beerandpub.com/newpages/sec2newp/childp
ub/fchilpub.html Young persons aged 16 plus can drink beer, porter, cider or perry but not wine or spirits. They can only drink if they are having a meal and they are in a part of the premises usually set apart for the service of table meals. or http://www.beerandpub.com/newpages/sec2newp/childp
ub/fchilpub.html The Children's Certificate allows pubs to admit under-14s, if accompanied by an adult, into bars up to 9pm - as long as food and soft drinks are available.

[gmc2002]

Whoops the 2nd link should have been http://www.lawcentre.co.uk/licensing/q2.htm

[*ashie*]

Children under 14 aren't allowed into a licenced pub unless the pub has a special licence for children to be allowed in. Children 14+ are allowed to buy soft drinks only when they are allowed in, and must be supervised. 16 yr olds are allowed to have wine, port, beer and cider but only when a meal is being served and they're with an adult. On private property children 5+ are allowed to consume alcohol.