What age can children drink alcohol at home and are under 18s allowed in pubs after 9pm?
PUBS are a key feature of UK culture, providing a place for eating, drinking, watching sports, and more, for many people up and down the country.
It's illegal for under 18s to buy alcohol anywhere in Britain — but are young people allowed join in on the fun at the pub?
What is the legal drinking age in the UK?
In the UK's legal drinking age is 18.
The Intoxicating Liquor (Sale to Persons under 18) Act was introduced in 1923, which prohibited the sale or purchase of alcohol to or by any person under the age of 18.
Anyone under 18 caught drinking alcohol in public can be stopped, fined, or arrested by the police.
According to Drinkaware, if you are under 18 it is illegal:
- To be sold alcohol
- To buy or even try to buy alcohol
- For an adult to buy or try to buy alcohol for you
- To drink alcohol in licensed premises, like a pub or restaurant (there are some exceptions for 16 and 17-year-olds)
What age can children drink alcohol at home?
It is legal for children to drink alcohol at home, under the supervision of legal guardians.
In England, Scotland and Wales it is legal for children between the ages of five and 17 to drink some alcohol at home, or on other private premises.
However, it is illegal for any child under the age of five to drink alcohol in any circumstance — in public or private.
The NHS advises that "if children do drink alcohol, they shouldn't do so until they're at least 15 years old.”
The NHS says there are risks associated with drinking young:
- Alcohol can affect the normal development of vital organs and functions, including the brain, liver, bones, and hormones.
- Drinking before the age of 14 is associated with increased health risks, including alcohol-related injuries, violence, and thoughts and attempts of suicide.
- Drinking at an early age is also associated with risky behaviours, such as violence, having more sexual partners, pregnancy, using drugs, employment problems, and drunk driving.
The NHS also have advice for parents of children who drink alcohol:
- If children do drink alcohol, they should not do so until they're at least 15 years old.
- If 15 to 17-year-olds do drink alcohol, it should be very rarely — never more than once a week. They should always be supervised by an adult.
- If 15 to 17-year-olds drink alcohol, they should never exceed the recommended adult weekly limit (14 units of alcohol). 1 unit of alcohol is about half a pint of beer or a single measure (25ml) of spirits. A small glass of wine equals 1.5 units of alcohol. Read more about alcohol units.
- If your child intends to drink alcohol, it can help to set incentives, setting limits, agreeing on specific boundaries and offering advice.
Are under 18s allowed in pubs after 9 pm?
Young people under 18 are allowed inside a licensed venue that does not have age-restricted entertainment, as long as they are accompanied by adult who supervises them.
It is legal for someone over 18 to buy beer, wine, or cider for a 16 or 17-year-old, if they are having a meal together in a licensed place, such as a pub.
Licensing laws also state under 18s can purchase low or non-alcoholic pints.
However, it is an offence to allow an unaccompanied child under 16 to be in a pub between midnight and 5 am.
Some pubs may be subject to licensing conditions that stop children from entering at all.
Pubs that do allow kids during the day may have their own policies on children - for example, some pubs might require all children to leave by 6pm, or another set time.
Many pubs impose a 9 pm cut-off time but this is often at the pub landlord's discretion.
Children may be permitted to stay on the premises until 9.30 pm to consume a meal purchased before 9, but it's best to ask the venue.
Some pubs ban all children under 12, and others don't allow children in at all.
Local authorities can also impose restrictions on the presence of children on particular premises.