Alcohol misuse: tackling the UK epidemic - London

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BMA Board of Science
Legal age of consumption and age of purchase
In the UK, the legal age for consuming alcohol is five, provided parental consent is given. It is,
however, illegal for anyone under aged 18 to buy alcohol in a pub, off-licence, supermarket, or other
outlet, or for anyone to buy alcohol for someone under 18 to consume in a pub or a public place. p
Regulating access to alcohol through restrictions on the legal age of consumption and purchase is a
particularly effective strategy for preventing alcohol-related health and social problems among young
people. There is strong evidence from the USA that raising the legal age of consumption and
purchase reduces consumption levels in young people (including binge drinking), and reduces the
114, 115, 125, 150-154
levels of alcohol-related traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities. The effect of reducing the
legal age to purchase alcohol has been reported to increase consumption and the number of alcoholrelated
road crashes. 155
Hence, it is important to consider whether a review of the current legal age
limits for consuming and purchasing alcohol is necessary. Evidence from the USA clearly demonstrates
that raising the legal drinking age has a significant positive effect on alcohol-related problems.
The illegal purchase of alcohol by young people is a significant problem in the UK. A nationwide
police operation in 2004 found that 51 per cent of on-licenced premises and 32 per cent of offlicences
had sold alcohol illegally to individuals aged under 18. 4
The legal sale of alcohol is
complicated by the difficulty in accurately determining the age of young people aged between
16 and 18. There is also considerable anecdotal evidence that licensees are subjected to verbal and
physical abuse when refusing to sell age-restricted items such as alcohol. In the UK, the Retail of
Alcohol Standards Group (RASG) established the voluntary ‘Under 21?’ signage initiative in
December 2005 which aims to support retailers in encouraging anyone who is over 18 but looks
under 21 to carry acceptable identification if they wish to buy alcohol. All licensees should be
encouraged to sign-up to this voluntary agreement.
Responsible retailing and industry practices
Numerous factors contribute to the culture of drinking to excess and the rise in underage drinking and
alcohol-related harm in the UK. Key areas are the supply and promotion of alcohol to consumers.
Enforcing responsible serving practices
In addition to regulating licensing hours, legislation in the UK prohibits the sale of alcohol to
intoxicated customers and people under the age of 18. The enforcement of licensing laws is a vital
component of effective alcohol control that places the responsibility on licensees for the actions of
their customers. This is an advantageous approach as it does not rely on compliance from the
individual consumer and is likely therefore to be received as an acceptable alcohol control policy.
Active enforcement of laws regulating licensing hours and prohibiting the sale of alcohol to
individuals who are intoxicated or those underage have been shown to be effective at increasing
compliance with legislation. 156
In the USA, enforcement has also been shown to increase public
awareness, and when coupled with measures to encourage retailers and the public to comply with
115, 157, 158
the law, to reduce alcohol-related problems such as road traffic fatalities and homicides.
These benefits from increased enforcement of licensing laws have also been found to significantly
exceed the costs. 159
p In the UK, young people aged 16 and 17, with the licensee’s permission, can drink beer, wine or cider with a meal if it is
bought by an adult and they are accompanied by an adult. It is illegal for this age group to drink spirits in pubs even with a
meal. In Scotland, 16 and 17 -year -olds can buy beer, wine or cider so long as it’s served with a meal and consumed in an
area used solely for eating meals.
Alcohol misuse: tackling the UK epidemic