Drinking ages in a pub

[mattrix100]

Last week i was in my local pub when the barman asked me for ID, because i had sent my driving licence off to the DVLA i didnt have anyhting to show him.
I was then told to leave as i didnt look 18 even thoguh i was only drinking coke (driving).

Is it right that if you are under 18 you are not allowed in a pub or bar after 9pm (i was in weatherspoons). I was with my friends all aged 19 and they said it is still not legal for an under 18 to be in the bar even if they are with adults.

[Ethel]

As I understand it, under 16 - 17 year olds can be in a bar only when food is being served.

As soon as food is stopped the under 18s cannot be in the bar area.

Of course a pub can have its own rules and can refuse to serve anyone, or bar them from their premises, without giving a reason.

[Rock'n'Roll]

I was always under the impression you could go into a pub at 14 as long as you drank non-alcholic and didn't stand at the bar. Or maybe it was if your not in a room where the bar is accessible

[Rock'n'Roll]

Could I had,that bar staff,like shop workers have to be very careful these days,serving under age drinkers can mean getting fired,license revoked and a fine.

[winemaker]

My daughter is 32 yrs old, looks 16 and has carried "Proof of Age" in addition to her driving licence,for many years and still gets asked for ID-- a licensee cannot be too careful--it's the individuals responsibility to conform, whether you like it or not---it's respect for the law of the land.
FermentingTom

[brachiopod]

Some very valid points here from everyone.

However, the Licensing Act 2003 superceded all the old laws about 'minors' in the pub.

It was true about 14 years to be in a pub; 16 for "beer, cider and perry" (note, not wine originally) "with a meal"; etc. etc.

Even then, though, these were minimum ages by law - so if a Licensee decided that no-one under 18 was allowed to be in his pub, then he has absolute right to stipulate this, despite the (then) Licensing Law saying a 14 year old may be on Licensed Premises.

As an ex-Licensee, I have seen many people who think that it is a right under Licensing Law, when it merely sets the minimum, legally permissible age.

Similarly, "Permitted Hours" - this defines the hours you are allowed to open, NOT the hours you MUST open.

And finally - "Public House" - ie 'pub' - means the Licensee is granted permission to allow members of the public into The Premises to purchase and consume alcoholic liqour. It does NOT mean the public have a right of entry!

(If I had a penny for every time I heard"IT's a public 'ouse innit? Then I'm the public an' I can come in", swiftly followed, {upon being asked to leave} by "You don't know 'oo I am !!" - then I'd have about �2.84p)

[hammerman]

My local is very family/child friendly and i often take my 7 year old daughter in there, where she will almost certainly meet a few other kids.....is that breaking the law ?

Also, many pubs and supermarkets adopt the "21" rule. If you look under 21, you might be asked for ID

[abelmanmoth]

If the barman asked for you ID, its irrelevant what your drinking as many bars only allow over 18's whatever time of day it is.

I'm working as barman for the summer and im always ID-ing people - and as its a fairly small town i always get people going something along the lines of "Ask Barry how old I am"...and I always explain that "I'm sure your 18, but the burden of proof lies with you, not Barry"...Most of them don't understand that, walk away saying "smart arse", and then try again the week after wearing their baseball cap at a different angle.

I'm 22 and I got ID'd buying ciggarettes! I knew then it was time to quit.

[Jenarry]

think weatherspoons have got pretty strict policy on underage drinking.last year me and my boyfriend went to brighton for wkend.got id'd at the door of the weatherspoons there.me and b.f. cracked up.we're both in our 30's and neither of us had been id'd for years!!!!!!!!!!

[WendyS]

When you get your driving licence back from DVLA, take several photocopies of it and keep one in every pair of trousers you wear. Then you won't be caught out again.

[brachiopod]

I got "ID'd" a few years ago in a supermarket as I was buying a few bottles of spirits.

I was asked (literally) "Are you 18?"

The truthful answer to that, of course, was "No".

After a long exchange that involved getting the manager, I was eventually sold the alcohol.

At the time I was in my late twenties and was a Licensee myself !!

[xx cutie xx]

i always get asked for ID in wetherspoons(im nearly 21) even if im ordering food and a glass of lemonade! the thing that gets me though is at the weekend you get ID'd by the bouncers before you're allowed in, then you get to the bar and the bar staff ask if you have any ID!! i sometimes get ID'd 3 or 4 times just in there.

[violetblue]

Am i right in thinking that a landlord/lady has the right to refuse to serve whoever he/she likes, for whatever reason?

[brachiopod]

Effectively, yes.

You are also committing a criminal offence if you do not leave Licensed Premises when asked to do so by the Licensee.