• It is illegal to give alcohol to a child under the age of five, even at home, except on the orders of a doctor.
• Children under 14 are not allowed in a bar during opening hours unless the bar has been granted a children’s certificate.
• Young people aged 14-17 may be in a bar but they must not buy, be bought or drink alcohol.
• Young people aged 16-17 may buy or be bought beer, cider or perry in a separate eating area with a meal on licensed premises. This doesn’t include bar meals. You may be asked for proof of age.
• It is illegal for anyone under 18 to buy alcohol from an off-licence.
• The police can take alcohol away from anyone drinking in a public place who they know, or reasonably believe, to be under 18.
• Licensees have the right to refuse a person who appears to be drunk from obtaining any alcohol on their premises, they can also ask such a person to leave their premises.

Other sections

To see how alcohol can play a part in crime, visit our section Alcohol and crime. or if you want to understand the facts about drinking alcohol, visit the section The Issues - Alcohol