17 year old in a pub?
Discussion
Quick question on UK drinking laws.
My 17yo son went to the pub last night with his mates (all 18). He did not intend to drink alcohol. He doesn't drink very often, not even if we go out for a meal.
They went to the bar and we're asked for ID as you would expect, but were asked to leave as my son was not with a parent.
I thought you just needed to be with an adult (over 18) not a parent?
Just to be clear this has nothing to do with buying or drinking alcohol. Its a question about being in the bar.
My 17yo son went to the pub last night with his mates (all 18). He did not intend to drink alcohol. He doesn't drink very often, not even if we go out for a meal.
They went to the bar and we're asked for ID as you would expect, but were asked to leave as my son was not with a parent.
I thought you just needed to be with an adult (over 18) not a parent?
Just to be clear this has nothing to do with buying or drinking alcohol. Its a question about being in the bar.
Edited by 98elise on Wednesday 23 December 10:34
"It is not illegal:
For someone over 18 to buy a child over 16 beer, wine or cider if they are eating a table meal together in licensed premises."
https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/check-the-facts/alcoh...
Likely the landlord doesn't trust the over 18s not to buy the under 18 alcohol. This could impact on his business so doesn't want to take any chances.
For someone over 18 to buy a child over 16 beer, wine or cider if they are eating a table meal together in licensed premises."
https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/check-the-facts/alcoh...
Likely the landlord doesn't trust the over 18s not to buy the under 18 alcohol. This could impact on his business so doesn't want to take any chances.
there are plenty of licensed premises where you must be over 18
It's been a long time since i was a barman, but i don't remember ever coming across and licensing rules which had anything to do with anyone specifically being accompanied by a parent.
But as people have said, it's thier right to refuse any customers.
It's been a long time since i was a barman, but i don't remember ever coming across and licensing rules which had anything to do with anyone specifically being accompanied by a parent.
But as people have said, it's thier right to refuse any customers.
paintman said:
"It is not illegal:
For someone over 18 to buy a child over 16 beer, wine or cider if they are eating a table meal together in licensed premises."
https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/check-the-facts/alcoh...
Likely the landlord doesn't trust the over 18s not to buy the under 18 alcohol. This could impact on his business so doesn't want to take any chances.
Many people, including serving people in restruarants dont seem to realise this. Try telling a yound waitress that the 17 year old can have a pint of larger with his meal......For someone over 18 to buy a child over 16 beer, wine or cider if they are eating a table meal together in licensed premises."
https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/check-the-facts/alcoh...
Likely the landlord doesn't trust the over 18s not to buy the under 18 alcohol. This could impact on his business so doesn't want to take any chances.
I know its a good few years since I held a Liquor License, but I had it on memory that a 17 year old could actually purchase a wine/lager/cider with the meal, aswell as having it bought for them. Though the link suggests it can only be bought for them.
Its fair enough if the landlord rule, its his pub so his rules.
I just wanted to know it was a licencing issue, or just the staff being a picky. They were happy for the rest to stay, it was just my son they said couldn't be there without a parent.
My only anoyance is the pub is in walking distance, and not known for trouble, so if he's out then we prefer him to go there. We use it regularly as a family (its a pub/resturant).
I just wanted to know it was a licencing issue, or just the staff being a picky. They were happy for the rest to stay, it was just my son they said couldn't be there without a parent.
My only anoyance is the pub is in walking distance, and not known for trouble, so if he's out then we prefer him to go there. We use it regularly as a family (its a pub/resturant).
My son is just 18, but his friends are a mix of 17 and 18.
There's only one 'sympathetic' pub in our town where he can go with his under 17 mates. All of the others ban under 18s full-stop.
O.T. Your son will be 18 soon. It's the law, apparently, that you must visit the pub with him on his 18th birthday and let him buy you a drink!
Annoyingly, when I did this a couple of months ago, they didn't even check his i.d. I guess the bar staff saw that he was there with his Dad, so didn't feel the need to.
There's only one 'sympathetic' pub in our town where he can go with his under 17 mates. All of the others ban under 18s full-stop.
O.T. Your son will be 18 soon. It's the law, apparently, that you must visit the pub with him on his 18th birthday and let him buy you a drink!
Annoyingly, when I did this a couple of months ago, they didn't even check his i.d. I guess the bar staff saw that he was there with his Dad, so didn't feel the need to.
98elise said:
Its fair enough if the landlord rule, its his pub so his rules.
I just wanted to know it was a licencing issue, or just the staff being a picky. They were happy for the rest to stay, it was just my son they said couldn't be there without a parent.
My only anoyance is the pub is in walking distance, and not known for trouble, so if he's out then we prefer him to go there. We use it regularly as a family (its a pub/resturant).
Understand your issue totally, the LL though will more concerned with not doing anything remotely close to pushing his luck with his licence - especially given the time of year (more drinkers and more chances of an inspection) and the nature of group. If son had been with you or even with a group of mates of yours without you there i doubt that they would have batted an eyelid.I just wanted to know it was a licencing issue, or just the staff being a picky. They were happy for the rest to stay, it was just my son they said couldn't be there without a parent.
My only anoyance is the pub is in walking distance, and not known for trouble, so if he's out then we prefer him to go there. We use it regularly as a family (its a pub/resturant).
Round here they are really hot on it. I have seen a barman ID someone who was two years above them at school and whose 18th they had been to. And they were being serious!
Trax said:
Many people, including serving people in restruarants dont seem to realise this. Try telling a yound waitress that the 17 year old can have a pint of larger with his meal......
I know its a good few years since I held a Liquor License, but I had it on memory that a 17 year old could actually purchase a wine/lager/cider with the meal, aswell as having it bought for them. Though the link suggests it can only be bought for them.
Clearly not enough people have watched the inbetweeners.I know its a good few years since I held a Liquor License, but I had it on memory that a 17 year old could actually purchase a wine/lager/cider with the meal, aswell as having it bought for them. Though the link suggests it can only be bought for them.
98elise said:
They were happy for the rest to stay, it was just my son they said couldn't be there without a parent.
Landlord's rules, by the sound of it.The licensing laws don't mention 'a parent', they state that a child requires to be accompanied by a person aged 18 or over.
And a 'child' is defined as an individual aged under 16.
RobinOakapple said:
Evanivitch said:
Landlord has the right to impose that policy on under 18s, especially if he suspects his friends will buy him alcohol.
And he is wise to exercise that right.
Being born in August meant that I was one of the youngest in my school year so when plenty of my friends were 18 I was still someway off which obviously had a huge impact when it came to some events. Notably a few of us being rejected from the 6th form leaving party that was organised by the school social group to be held at a local club
It is quite frustrating that the rules for being in a bar can be rigid in that respect as it's not the case that you turn 18 and magically become capable of being a responsible drinker.....
To be honest I think that was better. As long as you behaved you were ok. If you didn't you were out, decent landlords kept tidy pubs and took no crap. At 16 or 17 you could be having a pint with your dad in your local. It taught you how to behave in pubs.
Now getting served in pubs at 17 is impossible. The licencees just dare not risk it. So now we have teenagers drinking cheap supermarket booze in parks, throwing bottles around.
Now getting served in pubs at 17 is impossible. The licencees just dare not risk it. So now we have teenagers drinking cheap supermarket booze in parks, throwing bottles around.
MoggieMinor said:
So now we have teenagers drinking cheap supermarket booze in parks, throwing bottles around.
Let's be honest, that's always been the case. I used to head on out at the age of 15/16 with 10 B&H and a 2 litre bottle of Strongbow on Friday & Saturday nights. This would have been about 26/27 years ago. There was one lad in our group who looked old enough to get served in the local off-license - I can only assume they thought he was an alcoholic as he went in about 3 or 4 times a night buying the dirtiest, nastiest, cheapest booze imaginable
And no, I wasn't a scrote (although I did own several shell suits) & neither was anyone I hung around with. It's just what happened as it had to people just a bit older than me (who could now go to the pub).
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