United Kingdom
UK Drinking Age: Buying and Drinking Alcohol Rules by Nation
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited September 28, 2026). · 10 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
The minimum age to buy alcohol is 18 across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, though England, Wales and Scotland all allow a 16 or 17 year old to drink beer, wine or cider with a meal, an exception Northern Ireland does not have.
Buying Alcohol: 18 in Every Nation
The baseline rule is the same everywhere. In England and Wales, section 146 of the Licensing Act 2003 makes it an offence to sell alcohol to anyone under 18. In Scotland, section 102 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 creates the equivalent offence. In Northern Ireland, Article 60 of the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 bans selling or delivering alcohol to anyone under 18, and bans permitting them to consume it on licensed premises.
England and Wales: Drinking With a Meal at 16 or 17
The Licensing Act 2003 carves out a specific exception for 16 and 17 year olds. Section 150(4) provides that the general consumption offence does not apply where the individual is 16 or 17, the alcohol is beer, wine or cider, it is consumed at a table meal on relevant premises, and the individual is accompanied at the meal by someone 18 or over. Section 149(4) to (5) covers the other half of the same scenario: it exempts an adult who buys beer, wine or cider for that 16 or 17 year old's table meal from the offence, in section 149(4), of buying alcohol for consumption on relevant premises by someone under 18. The 16 or 17 year old still cannot buy the drink themselves.
Scotland Has the Same Exception, Under a Different Section
Scotland allows the same kind of meal exception, though it sits at a different citation than sometimes stated. The relevant provision is section 106(3) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, headed "Consumption of alcohol by a child or young person," which provides that the general consumption offences "do not apply to the consumption of beer, wine, cider or perry by a young person along with a meal supplied on relevant premises." In substance, this matches England and Wales: the same drink types, the same requirement that it accompany a meal on licensed premises. One difference: Scotland's meal exception, which applies to a "young person" (defined as 16 or 17), has no requirement that the young person be accompanied by an adult, unlike the England and Wales rule.
Northern Ireland: No Meal Exception
Northern Ireland does not have an equivalent meal exception. Article 60(2)(b) of the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 provides that a person under 18 "shall not... consume intoxicating liquor in any place or premises except premises used only as a private residence." The only carve-out is drinking in a private home; there is no allowance for a 16 or 17 year old to drink with a meal at a restaurant, pub or other licensed premises, unlike in England, Wales and Scotland.
Buying Alcohol on Behalf of a Child
Every nation also makes it an offence for an adult to buy alcohol for someone under 18: section 149 of the Licensing Act 2003 in England and Wales, sections 104A and 104B of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 in Scotland, and Article 60(3) of the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 in Northern Ireland. In Scotland, the offence of buying alcohol for an under-18 (as distinct from buying it on their behalf), or giving it to them, does not apply where it is for drinking other than in a public place, and in Northern Ireland Article 60(3) excepts premises used only as a private residence. The meal exceptions above are the specific circumstances in England, Wales and Scotland in which buying a 16 or 17 year old a drink with a meal on licensed premises is not an offence.
This page is part of our UK criminal law coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a 16 year old drink alcohol with a meal in a restaurant?
In England, Wales and Scotland, yes, provided the drink is beer, wine, cider or perry, it accompanies a meal on licensed premises (a table meal in England and Wales), and, in England and Wales, an adult is present. Northern Ireland has no such exception.
Is the drinking age different in Northern Ireland?
The age to buy alcohol is 18 everywhere in the UK, including Northern Ireland. What differs is the meal exception: Northern Ireland does not have one, so a 16 or 17 year old cannot lawfully drink on licensed premises there even with a meal.
Can an adult buy alcohol for someone under 18?
Generally not. Buying alcohol for someone under 18 is an offence in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with limited exceptions such as the 16 or 17 year old meal exception in England, Wales and Scotland.
What alcohol is covered by the meal exception?
Beer, wine, cider and, in Scotland's wording, perry. Spirits and other drink types are not covered by the exception in any nation.
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005
s. 102Sale of alcohol to a child or young personIn force
(1) A person who sells alcohol to a child or a young person commits an offence. (2) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) (referred to in this section as “ the accused ”) to show that— (a) the accused believed the child or young person to be aged 18 or over, and (b) either— (i) the accused had taken reasonable steps to establish the child's or young person's age, or (ii) no reasonable person could have suspected from the child's or young person's appearance that the child or young person was aged under 18. (3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(b)(i), the accused is to be treated as having taken reasonable steps to establish the child's or young person's age if and only if— (a) the accused was shown any of the documents mentioned in subsection (4), and (b) that document would have convinced a reasonable person. (4) The documents referred to in subsection (3)(a) are any document bearing to be— (a) a passport, (aa) a UK driving licence, (b) a European Union photocard driving licence, or (c) such other document, or a document of such other description, as may be prescribed.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-14 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislation.gov.uk
s. 104aSupply of alcohol to a childIn force
(1) A person, other than a child or young person, who— (a) buys or attempts to buy alcohol— (i) on behalf of a child, or (ii) for a child, or (b) gives alcohol (or otherwise makes it available) to a child, commits an offence. (2) Subsection (1)(a)(ii) and (b) does not apply to the buying of alcohol for, or (as the case may be) giving or making available of alcohol to, a child— (a) for consumption other than in a public place, or (b) for the purposes of religious worship. (3) In subsection (2)(a), “ public place ” includes— (a) relevant premises, (b) any place to which the public have access for the time being (whether on payment of a fee or otherwise), and (c) any place to which the public do not have access but to which the child unlawfully gains access. (4) A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to— (a) a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, (b) imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or (c) both.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-14 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislation.gov.uk
s. 104bSupply of alcohol to a young personIn force
(1) A person, other than a child or young person, who knowingly— (a) buys or attempts to buy alcohol— (i) on behalf of a young person, or (ii) for a young person, or (b) gives alcohol (or otherwise makes it available) to a young person, commits an offence. (2) Subsection (1)(a)(ii) and (b) does not apply to— (a) the buying of alcohol for, or (as the case may be) giving or making available of alcohol to, a young person— (i) for consumption other than in a public place, or (ii) for the purposes of religious worship, or (b) the buying, or (as the case may be) giving or making available, of beer, wine, cider or perry for consumption by a young person along with a meal supplied on relevant premises. (3) In subsection (2)(a)(i), “ public place ” includes— (a) relevant premises, (b) any place to which the public have access for the time being (whether on payment of a fee or otherwise), and (c) any place to which the public do not have access but to which the young person unlawfully gains access.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-14 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislation.gov.uk
s. 106Consumption of alcohol by a child or young personIn force
(1) A child or young person who knowingly consumes alcohol on any relevant premises commits an offence. (2) Any responsible person who ... allows a child or young person to consume alcohol on any relevant premises commits an offence. (3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to the consumption of beer, wine, cider or perry by a young person along with a meal supplied on relevant premises. (4) A child or young person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale. (5) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (2) is liable on summary conviction to— (a) a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, (b) imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or (c) both.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-14 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislation.gov.uk
s. 147InterpretationIn force
(1) In this Act— “ alcoholic drink ” means a drink consisting of or containing alcohol, “ applicant ”, in relation to any application under this Act, means the person making the application, “ chief constable ” means the chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland, “ area ” means— in relation to a council, the local government area for which the council is constituted, in relation to a Licensing Board or Local Licensing Forum, the council area or, as the case may be, licensing division for which the Board or Forum is established, “ capacity ”, in relation to licensed premises, means— in relation to licensed premises (or any part of such premises) on which alcohol is sold for consumption on the premises (or, as the case may be, that part), the maximum number of customers which can be accommodated in the premises (or, as the case may be, that part) at any one time, and in relation to licensed premises (or any part of such premises) on which alcohol is sold for consumption off the premises (or, as the case may be, that part), the amount of space in the premises (or, as the case may be, that part) given over to the display of alcohol for sale, “ child ” means a person under the a
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-14 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislation.gov.uk
Licensing Act 2003
s. 146Sale of alcohol to childrenIn force
(1) A person commits an offence if he sells alcohol to an individual aged under 18. (2) A club commits an offence if alcohol is supplied by it or on its behalf— (a) to, or to the order of, a member of the club who is aged under 18, or (b) to the order of a member of the club, to an individual who is aged under 18. (3) A person commits an offence if he supplies alcohol on behalf of a club— (a) to, or to the order of, a member of the club who is aged under 18, or (b) to the order of a member of the club, to an individual who is aged under 18. (4) Where a person is charged with an offence under this section by reason of his own conduct it is a defence that— (a) he believed that the individual was aged 18 or over, and (b) either— (i) he had taken all reasonable steps to establish the individual’s age, or (ii) nobody could reasonably have suspected from the individual’s appearance that he was aged under 18. (5) For the purposes of subsection (4), a person is treated as having taken all reasonable steps to establish an individual’s age if— (a) he asked the individual for evidence of his age, and (b) the evidence would have convinced a reasonable person.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-14 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislation.gov.uk
s. 149Purchase of alcohol by or on behalf of childrenIn force
(1) An individual aged under 18 commits an offence if— (a) he buys or attempts to buy alcohol, or (b) where he is a member of a club— (i) alcohol is supplied to him or to his order by or on behalf of the club, as a result of some act or default of his, or (ii) he attempts to have alcohol supplied to him or to his order by or on behalf of the club. (2) But subsection (1) does not apply where the individual buys or attempts to buy the alcohol at the request of— (a) a constable, or (b) a weights and measures inspector, who is acting in the course of his duty. (3) A person commits an offence if— (a) he buys or attempts to buy alcohol on behalf of an individual aged under 18, or (b) where he is a member of a club, on behalf of an individual aged under 18 he— (i) makes arrangements whereby alcohol is supplied to him or to his order by or on behalf of the club, or (ii) attempts to make such arrangements.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-14 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislation.gov.uk
s. 150Consumption of alcohol by childrenIn force
(1) An individual aged under 18 commits an offence if he knowingly consumes alcohol on relevant premises. (2) A person to whom subsection (3) applies commits an offence if he knowingly allows the consumption of alcohol on relevant premises by an individual aged under 18. (3) This subsection applies— (a) to a person who works at the premises in a capacity, whether paid or unpaid, which authorises him to prevent the consumption, and (b) where the alcohol was supplied by a club to or to the order of a member of the club, to any member or officer of the club who is present at the premises at the time of the consumption in a capacity which enables him to prevent it. (4) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply where— (a) the individual is aged 16 or 17, (b) the alcohol is beer, wine or cider, (c) its consumption is at a table meal on relevant premises, and (d) the individual is accompanied at the meal by an individual aged 18 or over.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-14 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislation.gov.uk
s. 159Interpretation of Part 7In force
In this Part— “ authorisation ” has the meaning given in section 136(5); “ relevant premises ” means— licensed premises, or premises in respect of which there is in force a club premises certificate, or (c) premises which may be used for a permitted temporary activity by virtue of Part 5; “ table meal ” means a meal eaten by a person seated at a table, or at a counter or other structure which serves the purpose of a table and is not used for the service of refreshments for consumption by persons not seated at a table or structure serving the purpose of a table; and “ weights and measures inspector ” means an inspector of weights and measures appointed under section 72(1) of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 (c. 72).
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-14 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislation.gov.uk
Search our record of UK legislation — retrieved from legislation.gov.uk →
Sources and References
- Licensing Act 2003, section 146 (Sale of alcohol to children)(legislation.gov.uk).gov
- Licensing Act 2003, section 149 (Purchase of alcohol by or on behalf of children)(legislation.gov.uk).gov
- Licensing Act 2003, section 150 (Consumption of alcohol by children)(legislation.gov.uk).gov
- Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, section 102 (Sale of alcohol to a child or young person)(legislation.gov.uk).gov
- Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, section 106 (Consumption of alcohol by a child or young person)(legislation.gov.uk).gov
- Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996, Article 60(legislation.gov.uk).gov
- Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, section 104A (supply of alcohol to a child)(legislation.gov.uk).gov
- Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, section 104B (supply of alcohol to a young person; meal exception)(legislation.gov.uk).gov
- Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, section 147 (child means under 16; young person means 16 or 17)(legislation.gov.uk).gov
- Licensing Act 2003, section 159 (meaning of table meal)(legislation.gov.uk).gov