What Is the Drinking Age in England?
If you are visiting from a country where the drinking age is 21, England can feel surprisingly relaxed.
The legal age to buy alcohol in England is 18, including in London.
Most of the rules are simple, but there are a few exceptions for 16 and 17 year-olds, and the law draws a clear line between buying alcohol and drinking it.
This post explains what is allowed and acceptable under the current UK laws.
What Is the Legal Drinking Age in England?
The legal age to buy alcohol in England is 18.
At 18, you can legally buy alcohol from pubs, bars, restaurants, supermarkets and off-licences. You can also drink alcohol in licensed premises.
It is illegal for a business to sell alcohol to anyone under 18, although the rules around drinking alcohol under 18 are slightly different depending on circumstances.
What Is the Legal Drinking Age in the UK?
The legal age to buy alcohol is 18 across the entire United Kingdom.
That includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In all four nations, you must be 18 to purchase alcohol from a shop, supermarket, pub or restaurant.
While the minimum age to buy alcohol is the same throughout the UK, some rules affecting under-18s differ slightly between nations.
Can You Drink Alcohol Under 18 in England?
Yes, but only in limited circumstances. A 16 or 17 year-old may drink alcohol in licensed premises such as pubs, bars and restaurants if:
- They are accompanied by an adult.
- The alcohol is purchased by the adult.
- It is consumed with a meal.
This exception does not apply to spirits.
Outside of that specific situation, under-18s cannot legally drink alcohol in pubs, bars or restaurants.
What Is the Law on Drinking Alcohol at Home?
There is no specific minimum legal age for drinking alcohol in a private home in England.
Alcohol still cannot be sold to anyone under 18.
An adult can give alcohol to a child at home, but it cannot be sold to them, and it cannot be consumed in licensed premises unless the pub meal exception applies.
Although not prohibited in a private setting, official health guidance strongly advises that children should not drink alcohol. The law focuses mainly on preventing underage sales rather than policing private homes.
Full details of the current law are available on the official GOV.UK guidance.
Is the Drinking Age Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?
The minimum age to buy alcohol is 18 in all parts of the UK.
In Scotland and Wales, the rules are broadly the same as in England. You must be 18 to buy alcohol, and the same limited pub meal exception applies to 16 and 17 year olds.
Northern Ireland is slightly stricter. While the minimum age to buy alcohol is still 18, the pub meal exception for 16 and 17 year olds does not apply in the same way.
Across the UK, you must be 18 to purchase alcohol. Any differences mainly affect specific under 18 exceptions rather than the core age limit.
How Strictly Is the Drinking Age Enforced?
Businesses that sell alcohol in England take the legal age limit seriously.
Most pubs, bars and shops operate a policy known as Challenge 25. If you look under 25, staff are required to ask for valid photo identification before serving you.
Accepted ID usually includes a passport or a UK driving licence. Some venues also accept approved proof of age cards.
Shops and licensed premises can face heavy fines or lose their licence if they sell alcohol to someone under 18. For that reason, staff are generally cautious.
If you are under 25 and cannot show valid ID, you should expect to be refused service.
Do Tourists Have Different Drinking Age Rules in England?
No. The drinking age in England applies to everyone, including tourists.
If you are visiting from another country, you must still be 18 to buy alcohol in England. There are no special rules for visitors.
Even if the legal drinking age is lower or higher in your home country, English law applies while you are in England.
If you are asked for identification, you will need to show a valid photo ID. A passport is usually the simplest option for visitors.
FAQs About the Drinking Age in England
Here are clear answers to the most common questions about the drinking age in England.
Is the drinking age 16 in the UK?
No. The legal age to buy alcohol anywhere in the UK is 18.
However, in England, 16 and 17 year olds can drink beer, wine or cider in a pub if they are with an adult and having a meal. They cannot buy alcohol themselves.
Can You Drink At Home At 16 In The UK?
There is no specific minimum legal age for drinking alcohol in a private home in England.
However, it is illegal for anyone under 18 to buy alcohol. Public health guidance strongly advises that children should not drink.
Can A 14 Year Old Drink In A Restaurant In The UK?
No. The pub meal exception in England applies only to 16 and 17 year olds.
A 14 year-old cannot legally drink alcohol in a pub or restaurant.
What Age Can You Drink Alcohol In The UK With A Meal?
In England, 16 and 17 year-olds can drink beer, wine or cider with a meal in a pub or restaurant if an adult buys the alcohol for them.
This exception does not apply to spirits and does not apply in the same way in Northern Ireland.
Is A 17 Year-Old A Minor In The UK?
Yes. In the UK, anyone under 18 is legally considered a minor.
This means a 17 year-old cannot buy alcohol, even though limited exceptions apply in licensed premises in England.
