Alcohol Licensing Law (Scotland)

[jim360]

Hi all,

There have been a few incidents where I've been somewhat puzzled as to what the law actually says about alcohol purchasing. In particular, what surprises me is why I seem to need proof of age when (a) I'm rather older than 18, and indeed 25 which is nominally the cut-off point. Presumably I still retain my youthful good looks... and (b) I never actually buy alcohol anyway. It seems totally nonsensical that I should need to provide proof that I'm over 18 when the only drink I ever buy is orange juice.

In a similar and totally bizarre incident, I once was visiting my friend in Oxford, and she was attempting to buy a bottle of wine (for formal dinner, perhaps) the night after. When I was not going to be there. She had ID, and was the one making the purchase. I did not, and despite not being involved in the transaction in any way, the shop assistant refused the purchase and she had to buy the bottle later.

Seriously, what? It was my understanding that in England, there was no prohibition on people drinking alcohol in private, so long as they were over the age of 5. In Scotland this may not be the case, but on the other hand there are no grounds to presume that someone buying orange juice is trying to sneak a bit of alcohol in on the side.

There is an obvious answer to this, I suppose, in that I could just carry ID (possibly in the form of a provisional drivers license), but the whole situation is totally stupid. Is there a legal requirement to check everyone's age, regardless of the drink they are buying, or is it just certain bartenders being pig-headed?

[Mamyalynne]

It is about time we had free or easily affordable ID in this country - I am 61 so rarely challenged but even my own bank has occasionally asked for ID after welcoming me by name on sight.


I neither drive or take foreign holidays, Bank Manager advised me to get a passport , I asked if she would pay for that - I need not tell you her reply.

[jim360]

"Don't forget the age limit for being on the premises."

Does this exist? I've heard mention of it but couldn't find it. The answer might lie there, in which case I might have to resign myself to the inevitable. But I'd prefer to have a poncy legal argument to fall back on...

[BlackadderV]

There is a difference between ID as a proof of age and a proof of identity.

[SirOracle]

Mamya You can get a card in eg Sainsburys in Scotland at least. I think it is called a citizens card. You pay for it but not very much.

Jim could maybe do with one as he seems to be having so much trouble.

[Mamyalynne]

Accepted(I'd still like an ID card though), and there may be pubs/bars/restaurants/off licences that bar under 25s from the premises as Methyl says,cannot say I've seen one.

[Mamyalynne]

Thanks SirO - I'll check whether my bank recognises that card.

[jim360]

It's irritating when I spontaneously decide to join my friends on a night out. Regardless of whether or not there's an easy solution from my end (I already conceded as much in my original post, anyway), is there a legal standing for this, or not?

[SirOracle]

Many bars etc in Edinburgh that have over 25years rule.

Wish we followed the others in the EU and had ID cards ( rather than having to carry a bulky passport ).

[SirOracle]

The legal standing is that the landlord is the arbiter of who he chooses to sell to or not.

[jim360]

Ho-hum... I'd question the judgement of a bartender who thinks "this person drinking only orange juice is suspicious ... oh, you wanted ten double vodkas? That's all right."

The thing that really gets on my nerves about the whole thing is that -- well, sometimes I buy wine for cooking purposes (red wine in spag bol is delish) and I've taken to carrying my passport for that, since it's barely one hundred yards from my flat to the shop. And pretty much every time that happens they don't ask for ID. And then I buy orange juice and that's the time I need an ID check?!

I'll try the section 106 subsection 4 thing next time, if I can remember in six months or so... in the meantime if it happens again I'll try to find a reasonable ID solution.

[jim360]

No idea what you're talking about divebuddy.

[SirOracle]

Are all your friends materially older than you Jim ?

If not then why can they buy alcohol.....UNLESS they have the savvy to carry ID with them.

When in Rome do as .............

[Svejk]

Poor Jim, mithered, needlessly, by every jobsworth in Scotland. Comes on here for some advice & sympathy and gets very little of either.
When I were a lad, we/I went to the pub at 14 and I should say that's why we learnt to conduct ourselves with a small bit of decorum unlike a lot of today's yoof.

[ummmm]

Co-op refused to serve me a bottle of wine because my 18 year old daughter didn't have ID. You could clearly see I was buying what would be a nice meal....with a bottle of wine to go with it....but noooooooo, wouldn't sell me it.

I just walked out leaving the food behind.

[Svejk]

^ probably thought it was a couple of schoolgirls 'trying it on'. ;-)

[Old_Geezer]

No one, not even 'baby face' Jim, should be obliged to carry id on them. Authorities trying to control individual citizens again. Id for orange juice ?!? You sure you haven't been committed and not realised Jim ?