English Drinking AgeThe United Kingdom has special laws regarding the legal drinking age. As the union comprisesEngland, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, different regions have modifications to the law too.The general rule is that if accompanied by an adult and the youth or child is at least 5 and above, it isgenerally legal for the youth or child to drink if supervised and ordered by an adult for a meal. Anyoneabove 18 is allowed to purchase alcohol and drink legally.
The official law as retrieved from Wikipedia :
Children under 5 must not be given alcohol unless under medical supervision or in an emergency(Children and Young Persons Act 1933, Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937).The minimum age for the purchase of alcohol is 18. People aged 16 or 17 may consume wine, beer orcider on licensed premises (pubs/bars/restaurants) with a table meal. In England, it must be an adult who orders. In Scotland, no adult is required to be present. The legal age for the purchase of alcoholfrom an off-license (store/supermarket) is 18. (The legal age to buy liqueur chocolates is 16. but this israrely enforced.)Under the BBPA’s Challenge 21 scheme, customers attempting to buy alcoholic beverages are asked toprove their age if in the retailer’s opinion they look under 21 even though the law states they must be aminimum of 18. Many supermarket and off-license chains display Challenge 21 notices stating thatthey will not serve persons who look under 21 without ID.There is also a new “Challenge 25″ scheme being rolled out in some parts of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Purchasing alcohol on behalf of a minor is illegal in all of the United Kingdom. This means acting asthe young person’s agent.– Source : Wikipedia.