Passengers drinking in your car.

[E4UAN]

Anybody know if it's legal for passengers to drink alcohol in your car while you drive?
I've always been under the impression that even if it's a passenger, the driver is still responsible so can be charged with some form of dangerous driving/ etc. So I've made a point of not letting friends drink while I drive them anywhere, but after an argument they've decided I'm just talking rubbish.
I'd quite like to know for sure, I'm in Scotland if that makes any difference.

[Bing o]

E4UAN said:

Anybody know if it's legal for passengers to drink alcohol in your car while you drive?
I've always been under the impression that even if it's a passenger, the driver is still responsible so can be charged with some form of dangerous driving/ etc. So I've made a point of not letting friends drink while I drive them anywhere, but after an argument they've decided I'm just talking rubbish.
I'd quite like to know for sure, I'm in Scotland if that makes any difference.

It is legal.

Unless you are in North America.

Then it is not.

[FiveStar]

How is your friend drinking going to cause you to be charged with dangerous driving?? Are you mad?

[GKP]

Dunno. Whose round is it?

[joewilliams]

My sister was stopped last month because her passenger was polishing off a bottle of wine. As the trafpol could tell that she was sober, she was sent on her way.

So, legal. But expect to be stopped

[E4UAN]

FiveStar said:

How is your friend drinking going to cause you to be charged with dangerous driving?? Are you mad?

I thought it was the same as seatbelts, ie it is the drivers responsibility to make sure passengers wear them.

[tigger1]

E4UAN said:

FiveStar said:

How is your friend drinking going to cause you to be charged with dangerous driving?? Are you mad?

I thought it was the same as seatbelts, ie it is the drivers responsibility to make sure passengers wear them.

Only the driver's responsibility for under 14s I think.

Drinking is ok as a passenger, and technically* ok even when you're driving. There's no laws about drinking alcohol in a car in the UK unlike many US states as mentioned.

*it's no more illegal than it is to drink a can of Coke etc

[Bing o]

tigger1 said:

E4UAN said:

FiveStar said:

How is your friend drinking going to cause you to be charged with dangerous driving?? Are you mad?

I thought it was the same as seatbelts, ie it is the drivers responsibility to make sure passengers wear them.

Only the driver's responsibility for under 14s I think.

Drinking is ok as a passenger, and technically* ok even when you're driving. There's no laws about drinking alcohol in a car in the UK unlike many US states as mentioned.

*it's no more illegal than it is to drink a can of Coke etc

It also applies to Canada as I found out once...

[paulsm]

you are responsible for your passengers, if they start hanging out the window drunk you could get charged.

I gave a friend a lift who'd been drinking, he decided to shout at people driving down the high street, we were followed by a copper who stopped us, had a go at me, said he could charge me with something, can't remember what now, brethalised me and gave my friend a severe ticking off.

[pbsaxman]

tigger1 said:

E4UAN said:

FiveStar said:

How is your friend drinking going to cause you to be charged with dangerous driving?? Are you mad?

I thought it was the same as seatbelts, ie it is the drivers responsibility to make sure passengers wear them.

Only the driver's responsibility for under 14s I think.

Drinking is ok as a passenger, and technically* ok even when you're driving. There's no laws about drinking alcohol in a car in the UK unlike many US states as mentioned.

*it's no more illegal than it is to drink a can of Coke etc

Except that driving while drinking from a can of coke or anything else can lead to a charge of lack of due care and attention much like eating a chocolate bar and maybe even smoking, or tuning the radio etc etc etc

[MilnerR]

Nope no offence to have people drinking in the car, in fact they can be as pissed as chief constables providing they're not contravening any of the public order act!

[Chrispy Porker]

MilnerR said:

Nope no offence to have people drinking in the car, in fact they can be as pissed as chief constables providing they're not contravening any of the public order act!

Why do you think they have chauffeurs?

[FiveStar]

paulsm said:

you are responsible for your passengers, if they start hanging out the window drunk you could get charged.

I gave a friend a lift who'd been drinking, he decided to shout at people driving down the high street, we were followed by a copper who stopped us, had a go at me, said he could charge me with something, can't remember what now, brethalised me and gave my friend a severe ticking off.

err mate the offence was shouting out the window. BIB would have stopped you even if the passenger was sober. There is no way they would charge you as the driver if you didnt do anything to. BIB like to scare people by making false claims (if they said they could charge you), make sure you know your rights!

[Munter]

paulsm said:

you are responsible for your passengers, if they start hanging out the window drunk you could get charged.

I gave a friend a lift who'd been drinking, he decided to shout at people driving down the high street, we were followed by a copper who stopped us, had a go at me, said he could charge me with something, can't remember what now, brethalised me and gave my friend a severe ticking off.

My OH once stopped the car and kicked her friends bloke out for pratting around drunk while a passenger. "Wear your seatbelt sit down and shut up or get out!" Now she's 5 foot and a bit and he's 6 foot something and just got out with a long walk home by all accounts. Scary these women when they get annoyed! Right thing to do though.

[MilnerR]

Chrispy Porker said:

MilnerR said:

Nope no offence to have people drinking in the car, in fact they can be as pissed as chief constables providing they're not contravening any of the public order act!

Why do you think they have chauffeurs?

Because they're all banned for speeding

[Chrispy Porker]

MilnerR said:

Chrispy Porker said:

MilnerR said:

Nope no offence to have people drinking in the car, in fact they can be as pissed as chief constables providing they're not contravening any of the public order act!

Why do you think they have chauffeurs?

Because they're all banned for speeding

or don't want to be.

[Bing o]

Chrispy Porker said:

MilnerR said:

Chrispy Porker said:

MilnerR said:

Nope no offence to have people drinking in the car, in fact they can be as pissed as chief constables providing they're not contravening any of the public order act!

Why do you think they have chauffeurs?

Because they're all banned for speeding

or don't want to be.

Can't claim to need his car for work then can he.

1. Because he has a chauffeur

2. Because he won't have a job

[MilnerR]

Chrispy Porker said:

MilnerR said:

Chrispy Porker said:

MilnerR said:

Nope no offence to have people drinking in the car, in fact they can be as pissed as chief constables providing they're not contravening any of the public order act!

Why do you think they have chauffeurs?

Because they're all banned for speeding

or don't want to be.

[Dwight VanDriver]

Passenger drinking whilst car being driven - offence?

Could be if the driver was a learner and passenger the supervisor.

Hanging out of window - false claim offence by PC?.

No - Specific offence under Reg 100 Con and Use 1986:-

A m/veh shall at all times be such that no danger is caused, or likely to be caused to ANY PERSON in or on the vehicle or on a road by reason of the manner passengers are carried.
3 POINTS.

dvd

[robwales]

I don't think it's illegal, but I definitely don't allow it in my car due to the resultant behaviour that follows.