The law on alcohol and under 18s

There are several laws relating to buying and consuming alcohol for under 18s.

The law across the UK includes a range of measures to protect young people’s health and wellbeing, and to keep them safe.

Laws affecting under 18s cover topics like schooling, employment, care, and health. And given the impact alcohol can have on health and development for children, these include strict age-controlled laws that restrict buying and consuming alcohol.¹

There are good reasons why buying alcohol is illegal for under 18s. Alcohol can be harmful to children and young people, with health risks including acute alcohol poisoning, an increased risk of becoming involved in violence, and damage to still developing organs like the brain and liver.^2,3,4

That’s why it is recommend that an alcohol-free childhood is the healthiest and best option.⁵

It’s illegal for under 18s to buy alcohol anywhere in the UK.⁶

What the law says

Under 18s

Across the UK, if you’re under 18 it’s against the law:⁷

For someone to sell you alcohol
To buy or 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 (although there is a limited exception for 16 and 17 year olds – see below)

The best advice for young people’s health and wellbeing is an alcohol-free childhood. If children do drink alcohol (even though it’s not recommended), it shouldn’t be until at least 15 years old.⁸

Under 18s can be stopped, fined or arrested by police for drinking alcohol in public. The police also have the power to confiscate alcohol.⁹

16 and 17 year olds

Someone aged 16 or 17 and accompanied by an adult, can drink (but not buy) beer, wine or cider with a meal at a licensed premises (except in Northern Ireland). But it’s illegal for people this age to drink spirits in a pub anywhere in the UK, even with a meal.¹⁰

16 and 17 year olds who work in a licensed bar, restaurant or shop can serve alcohol, as long as the licence holder or bar manager has approved the sale and it’s in line with any other restrictions set out in the license.¹¹

Under 16s

Young people under 16 may go into a pub (or premises primarily used to sell alcohol) if they’re accompanied by an adult.¹² However, this isn’t always the case. It can also depend on:

The specific conditions for that premises. For example, young people may only be allowed in certain areas, or at certain times
The licensable activities taking place there

In Scotland, it’s also illegal for under 16s to buy liqueur confectionary (e.g. chocolates).¹³

Under 14s

The law in Northern Ireland specifically states that ‘anyone under the age of 14 may only consume alcohol in a private house and only for medical purposes.’¹⁴

Under 5s

It’s illegal to give a child under the age of five alcohol.¹⁵

Regional differences in the law

The law is slightly different depending on which part of the UK you are in.

This guide is based on publicly accessible information from the websites of the governments across the UK (correct as of April 2026). For the most up-to-date advice, check the links below.

For more information about the law in England and Wales go to gov.uk
For information about the law in Scotland, go to gov.scot
For more information about the law in Northern Ireland, go to NIdirect.gov.uk

Consequences of breaking the law

Anyone convicted of illegally supplying alcohol to someone under 18 would face a criminal record and could have to pay a substantial fine. This applies to people running or working in a pub or shop, a parent or guardian, or anyone else.¹⁶

Under 18s caught drinking alcohol in public can be stopped, fined or arrested by police.¹⁷There are also other steps the police can take, without taking a case to court.

The police can confiscate alcohol from someone, no matter what their age, if they believe it has been, or will be drunk by someone under 18 in a public place.¹⁸

Parents and guardians can also be held responsible by the courts if their child repeatedly gets into trouble through alcohol possession or use.¹⁹

Getting a criminal record could affect future job prospects and make it more difficult to travel to countries like the USA.²⁰

What are the health effects of drinking for under 18s?

It is recommended that an alcohol-free childhood is the healthiest and best option. Drinking alcohol during teenage years is related to a wide range of health and social problems.²¹

Health risks for young people – which can happen after drinking very modest amounts of alcohol, by adult standards – include the possibility of alcohol poisoning, or of being involved in violence and ending up in vulnerable or dangerous situations.²²

Drinking regularly during childhood and young adulthood can cause permanent brain and liver damage to these developing organs.^23,24,25 It has also been shown to affect how well some young people do at school, which can result in a lifelong negative impact on their potential.^26,27,28 People who start drinking regularly at a young age are also more likely to have alcohol related problems as an adult.²⁹

If children do drink alcohol underage, it should not be until they are at least 15. If young people aged 15 to 17 do drink alcohol, it should always be with the guidance of a parent or carer or in a supervised environment.