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News Article Comments : Warning on underage drinking at private functions
Licensees in south Wales have been warned about the prospect of underage drinking when young people book private functions at pubs.
Police have written to every pub in the Rhondda area after sting operations revealed a “clear misunderstanding of the law”.
Officers said that at one unnamed pub, young people booked a function room for a private party, and the licensee and staff assumed the person who booked it has the responsibility to ensure under-18s didn’t buy alcohol.
“We have responded to complaints of underage people, some just 14 and 15, attending events unaccompanied, causing antisocial behaviour, violent crime and issues such as vomiting in the street,” said cllr John David.
“The landlord believed it was OK for the children to be there as they had booked a room as a private function.
“This is not the case and if one licensee is unsure of his responsibilities surrounding this issue, then others may be too.”
| Author Name | Opinion | Reply |
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Nigel Parsons 02/09/2008 14:02:54  |
RE: Warning on underage drinking at private functions Several of our clients operate mobile bars and encounter the same problem Nigel Parsons Answers Investigation www.challenge21.co.uk This post replies to this thread |
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George Baker 02/09/2008 15:06:44 |
RE: Warning on underage drinking at private functions Officers said that at one unnamed pub, young people booked a function room for a private party, and the licensee and staff assumed the person who booked it has the responsibility to ensure under-18s didn’t buy alcohol. I just despair about such licensees. Which bit of the following phrase do they NOT understand: "It is a criminal offence for any person to sell alcohol to a person who is under the age of 18 anywhere. There are NO exceptions to this". My guess is they fully understand the law, but choose to try and make a quick buck by defying it. And aren't we meant to be socially responsible? I am surprised the police treated the matter with such leniency. Idiots like this will do nothing but invite yet more criticism, controls and restrictions on the industry at large. Either play by the rules or get out! edited by: George Baker at: 02/09/2008 15:07:01 This post replies to this thread |
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| Forum user 3958 03/09/2008 01:23:45 |
RE: Warning on underage drinking at private functions The content of this post is currently under review |
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| George Baker 03/09/2008 14:40:06 |
RE: Warning on underage drinking at private functions Poster 3958, please don't let your anti 'Health & Safety Politburo' agenda enter into this thread. To the best of my knowledge nothing in the 2003 Licensing Act changed the law in respect of alcohol sales to under-age persons. That has been the law for a very, very long time. So, it's a little bid sad to try and blame the labour government for that one. For any licensee not to understand that the age at which it is legal to buy alcohol is 18 is a disgrace. It might indeed be virtually impossible to comply with ever-growing H&S legislation but what's that got to do with sales of alcohol to under-age? Calm down chum. edited by: George Baker at: 03/09/2008 14:40:22 This post replies to Forum user 3958 > RE: Warning on underage drinking at private functions |
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David Pott 03/09/2008 14:36:08 |
RE: Warning on underage drinking at private functions George there are exceptions to the 18 rule in both the 1968 act which I believe were revised slightly in the 2003 act which permit under eighteens to purchase alcohol. As these exceptions relate to the consumption of food and we are a 100% wet pub I have no need to remember the exact details. Perhaps where this confusion may have come from is that under the old act the 18 and over for consumption only covered the licensed area. If the function room had no bar it may have been, like beer gardens, outside of the licensed area and the 18 rule. This of course has now changed under the 2003 act and the license covers the entire premises. This post replies to George Baker > RE: Warning on underage drinking at private functions |
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| George Baker 03/09/2008 14:53:06 |
RE: Warning on underage drinking at private functions David, with respect, nothing has changed with respect to the SALE of alcohol. SALE should not be confused with CONSUMPTION where the present law allows young persons aged 16/17 to drink only beer, cider or table wine in association with them eating a table meal, but only provided the alcohol is BOUGHT BY AN ADULT (OVER-18) ACCOMPANYING THE YOUNGSTER. The 'old' law talked about 'bars' - and if an area was NOT a 'bar' then, believe it or not, a child as young as 5 could DRINK alcohol in such an area (ridiculous but true). The law was, and is, that it is illegal to SELL alcohol to anyone under the age of 18 - ANYWHERE. NO EXEPTIONS. This post replies to David Pott > RE: Warning on underage drinking at private functions |
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| Michael Kheng FBii 03/09/2008 16:07:51 |
RE: Warning on underage drinking at private functions Not forgeting that not all functions have meals and then where there are meals 16/17 can only consume with the meal and not after - now that will cause confusion and tension and friction won't it when you tell them they cannot drink anymore. Our company policy, and the advice I give to my clients, is where at all possible forget the 16/17 rule and adopt a no consumption under 18 full stop policy. Michael Kheng FBii www.kurnia.co.uk This post replies to George Baker > RE: Warning on underage drinking at private functions |
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| George Baker 03/09/2008 16:34:12 |
RE: Warning on underage drinking at private functions Agreed, Michael. The 16/17 year old consumption exception is daft. Cafe, continental culture we just don't get. It just sends out the wrong signals and other under-age customers will just think 'the fat lad eating over there has got a pint - let's try it ourselves'. Just because this daft exception might allow something doesn't mean we have to permit it. This post replies to Michael Kheng FBii > RE: Warning on underage drinking at private functions |
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| David Pott 04/09/2008 00:33:26 |
RE: Warning on underage drinking at private functions Deleted as an automated repeat of above posting was made. edited by: David Pott at: 04/09/2008 00:34:13 This post replies to George Baker > RE: Warning on underage drinking at private functions |
