late drinking in working mens clubs

[al gregory]

as a member of a working mens club , how does the law stand on drinking after time.

[Buenchico]

The concept of 'drinking up time', per se, was abolished by the Licensing Act 2003, so continuing to drink alcohol which was purchased before the end of the permitted period (as defined by the club's premises certificate) doesn't directly create any offence.

However the club's premises certificate might define a time when drinkers should have left the building. (That's normal for pubs but it might not be automatic for clubs. For instance a sports club might open the bar at lunchtimes but permit members to remain on the site, to participate in sports activities, throughout the afternoon). If the club failed to observe any such provision, they would risk the withdrawal of their premises certificate.

'Exposing alcohol for unauthorised sale' (irrespective of whether it's actually sold) outside of permitted hours is a criminal offence under Section 137 of the Act. Any person doing so can, upon conviction, be fined up to �20,000 and/or sentenced to 6 months imprisonment.

Chris

[Dinger2]

I get the impression you are a sensible member of the club and you are just "testing the water",with this question,so my uneducated guess,Al,is that given the times we are living in,(feb 2009),I doubt very much indeed that your local boys in blue, will come screeching around the corner "a-la-Sweeney",to "feel the collars",when they are better occupied chasing real villains,so,enjoy your "after-time"bevvy, safe in the knowledge that you and your esteemed company are NOT on the "Most- Wanted"list !