Is the legal drinking age still 18?
A Yes. This remains unchanged under the Act. The only exception is that 16 and 17 year-olds may drink beer, wine or cider with a table meal when they are accompanied by an adult aged 18 years or over. In all other cases, it is illegal for children under 18 to knowingly consume alcohol on relevant premises, or to buy or attempt to buy alcohol. An exception to this law is when a child has been asked to test-purchase alcohol from a relevant premises by a police officer or a trading standards officer. In these cases, the child will not be committing an offence.
