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The US Sun
Is it illegal to be drunk in a pub? UK rules explained
By Daniel Nuttman,
2 days ago
DRINKING in your local pub is something that most wouldn’t question the legalities of – especially when the footballs on.
But as the nation wakes from a sobering 2 – 1 Euro 2024 defeat , there are some laws related to drinking that you may not have been aware of.
It is against the law to serve a drunk person alcohol on licenced premises
Millions of Brits turned out to watch the Euro 2024 Final, with commemorations carrying on long through the night.
Pubs took advantage of special licencing rules and stayed open until 1am , allowing fans to drown their sorrows.
A number of employers gave workers time off so they could recover from a heavy night of drinking during the historic Euro 2024 Final that saw England lose 2 – 1 to Spain.
With that in mind, how many pubgoers were aware that they could have been breaking the law?
Is it illegal to be drunk in a pub?
It is illegal to be drunk in a pub under a historic law created in the Victorian era.
Under the Licensing Act 1872, any person found to be drunk on licensed premises, such as a pub, are liable to a penalty.
It is against the law under the Licensing Act of 2003 for bar staff to sell booze to a person who’s drunk, and it is also illegal to sell alcohol to someone if they are buying that drink for a drunk person.
A Fixed Penalty Notice of £90 by the Police could be handed to your landlady or anyone else permitted to sell alcohol if they’re found serving somebody who is drunk.
If it ends up going to court, this fine can be increased up to £1,000.
The rule is arguably outdated and very rarely enforced, but that doesn’t mean that having one to many drinks in a public house can’t land you in trouble.
The 150-year-old law means if you drink too much alcohol in a public place, including a pub, you are breaking the law and could be slammed with a £200 fine.
Section 12 of the Licensing Act 1872 states: “Every person found drunk…on any licensed premises, shall be liable to a penalty”.
This bizarre law was meant to encourage moderate drinking, while curtailing “drunk and disorderly” behaviour.
It can be illegal to drink in public if the person who is drunk is causing a disturbance, or is unable to control himself.
The offense is classed as being drunk and disorderly in a public place.
Some councils may put restrictions on the consumption of alcohol in certain areas, particular places where there’s a history of anti-social behaviour.
Failure to comply to the restrictions could lead to a fine.
It is illegal to consume alcohol on many forms of transport in the UK. This includes TFL (Transport for London) services including; buses, trams, DLR and the London Underground.
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What age can you drink alcohol in the UK?
The legal age of which someone is allowed to drink alcohol in the UK is 18.
You can be stopped, fined or arrested by police if you’re under 18 and drinking alcohol in public.
It is illegal for someone to sell you alcohol if you are under the the age of 18. It is also illegal for adult to try or try to buy a person under 18 alcohol.
It is against the law for a person under the age of 18 to drink alcohol on licensed premises. It could also lead to repercussions for the licensee if this happened on their property without asking for ID.
A person aged 16 or 17 can drink beer, wine or cider with a meal, but they must be accompanied by an adult, and they are not allowed to purchase the alcohol.
NHS guidelines on drinking alcohol
According to the NHS, regularly drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week risks damaging your health.
To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level if you drink most weeks:
men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis
spread your drinking over 3 or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units a week
if you want to cut down, try to have several drink-free days each week
If you’re pregnant or think you could become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all to keep risks to your baby to a minimum.
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