ChatterBank3 mins ago
Alcohol Licensing Law (Scotland)
Hi all,
There have been a few incidents where I've been somewhat puzzled as to what the law actually says about alcohol purchasing. In particular, what surprises me is why I seem to need proof of age when (a) I'm rather older than 18, and indeed 25 which is nominally the cut-off point. Presumably I still retain my youthful good looks... and (b) I never actually buy alcohol anyway. It seems totally nonsensical that I should need to provide proof that I'm over 18 when the only drink I ever buy is orange juice.
In a similar and totally bizarre incident, I once was visiting my friend in Oxford, and she was attempting to buy a bottle of wine (for formal dinner, perhaps) the night after. When I was not going to be there. She had ID, and was the one making the purchase. I did not, and despite not being involved in the transaction in any way, the shop assistant refused the purchase and she had to buy the bottle later.
Seriously, what? It was my understanding that in England, there was no prohibition on people drinking alcohol in private, so long as they were over the age of 5. In Scotland this may not be the case, but on the other hand there are no grounds to presume that someone buying orange juice is trying to sneak a bit of alcohol in on the side.
There is an obvious answer to this, I suppose, in that I could just carry ID (possibly in the form of a provisional drivers license), but the whole situation is totally stupid. Is there a legal requirement to check everyone's age, regardless of the drink they are buying, or is it just certain bartenders being pig-headed?
There have been a few incidents where I've been somewhat puzzled as to what the law actually says about alcohol purchasing. In particular, what surprises me is why I seem to need proof of age when (a) I'm rather older than 18, and indeed 25 which is nominally the cut-off point. Presumably I still retain my youthful good looks... and (b) I never actually buy alcohol anyway. It seems totally nonsensical that I should need to provide proof that I'm over 18 when the only drink I ever buy is orange juice.
In a similar and totally bizarre incident, I once was visiting my friend in Oxford, and she was attempting to buy a bottle of wine (for formal dinner, perhaps) the night after. When I was not going to be there. She had ID, and was the one making the purchase. I did not, and despite not being involved in the transaction in any way, the shop assistant refused the purchase and she had to buy the bottle later.
Seriously, what? It was my understanding that in England, there was no prohibition on people drinking alcohol in private, so long as they were over the age of 5. In Scotland this may not be the case, but on the other hand there are no grounds to presume that someone buying orange juice is trying to sneak a bit of alcohol in on the side.
There is an obvious answer to this, I suppose, in that I could just carry ID (possibly in the form of a provisional drivers license), but the whole situation is totally stupid. Is there a legal requirement to check everyone's age, regardless of the drink they are buying, or is it just certain bartenders being pig-headed?
Answers
Not sure if this has been posted before: In October 2011, the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 was amended by the introduction of a new mandatory condition for all premises licences and occasional licences. This provides that there must be an age verification policy in relation to the sale of alcohol on the premises. The law has set a minimum age of 25 years for...
09:44 Sun 14th Dec 2014
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It is about time we had free or easily affordable ID in this country - I am 61 so rarely challenged but even my own bank has occasionally asked for ID after welcoming me by name on sight.
I neither drive or take foreign holidays, Bank Manager advised me to get a passport , I asked if she would pay for that - I need not tell you her reply.
I neither drive or take foreign holidays, Bank Manager advised me to get a passport , I asked if she would pay for that - I need not tell you her reply.
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Ho-hum... I'd question the judgement of a bartender who thinks "this person drinking only orange juice is suspicious ... oh, you wanted ten double vodkas? That's all right."
The thing that really gets on my nerves about the whole thing is that -- well, sometimes I buy wine for cooking purposes (red wine in spag bol is delish) and I've taken to carrying my passport for that, since it's barely one hundred yards from my flat to the shop. And pretty much every time that happens they don't ask for ID. And then I buy orange juice and that's the time I need an ID check?!
I'll try the section 106 subsection 4 thing next time, if I can remember in six months or so... in the meantime if it happens again I'll try to find a reasonable ID solution.
The thing that really gets on my nerves about the whole thing is that -- well, sometimes I buy wine for cooking purposes (red wine in spag bol is delish) and I've taken to carrying my passport for that, since it's barely one hundred yards from my flat to the shop. And pretty much every time that happens they don't ask for ID. And then I buy orange juice and that's the time I need an ID check?!
I'll try the section 106 subsection 4 thing next time, if I can remember in six months or so... in the meantime if it happens again I'll try to find a reasonable ID solution.
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