To think an 18 year old can have a cider with a meal?

[boowaitingforbaby]

Ok, so my 18 year old cousin didn't have her ID but I've always been of the thinking that 16 & 17 year olds can have a pint of cider with a meal.
Got her a cider, about 3/4 in, bar staff come up, don't speak to me, but take the drink off her telling her she can't have it.
(Again, no word to me, the person who purchased the drink)
I complained to the supervisor, saying the law states that a 16 & 17 year old can have one drink so even if she is under age (she isn't) it shouldn't have been taken off her.
He said that it needed to be a low alcohol cider for that, but after some furious googling, I cant find anything about that.
(Obviously I didn't shout or get too angry, I more focused on the rudeness that no one asked me, the person who bought the drink)
Am I being unreasonable??

No indeed you are correct. Is it a chain pub?

If you’re under 18, it’s against the law:

for someone to sell you alcohol
to buy or try to buy alcohol
for an adult to buy or try to buy alcohol for you
to drink alcohol in licensed premises (such as a pub or restaurant)

However, if you’re 16 or 17 and accompanied by an adult, you can drink (but not buy) beer, wine or cider with a meal.

www.gov.uk/alcohol-young-people-law

Yes you're right - www.gov.uk/alcohol-young-people-law No requirement for it to be low-alcohol. I'd be writing in complaining to the management and reminding them of the law - which they should know.

A lot of places use the "Think 25" rule now, so if you look under 25 you won't get served. Your cousin needs to keep ID on her to avoid this. I don't really blame places for being over cautious, its their license on the line.

However, I guess an 18yo with no idea could be actually 15, so maybe they were just covering themselves?

The landlord is within his rights to refuse the sale if he reasonably believes the alcohol is being given to a minor. Your cousin, 18 or not, had no ID. Other staff, such as bar staff, or supermarket cashiers are also personally responsible if they sell to a minor. Sorry but, a lesson learned, always carry ID.

@StillDrivingMeBonkers valid point however what id does a 16 year old have?
Less bothered about the refusing to serve, more bothered about the rudeness! (However I have told her to make sure she has her ID in future 😂)

Ex licensee here - the supervisor is wrong, you're right.

It's completely up to the bar. Where I used to work they wouldn't allow anyone to drink alcohol without ID with a meal or not. The law doesn't matter it's up to the individual bar

If it was a pub chain they will not accept any underage drinking at all. Not woth the hassle and their rules protect themselves and staff against fines etc.

Private restaurants might.

It's half not a pint that is allowed.

Having worked as a pub manager for years, people who argued this point pissed me off no end as they think because it's 'legal' we should obey.

No. I'm not going to lose my licence because someone thinks their child should be allowed a blue WKD to celebrate their GCSE results.

@ijustwannadance I understand that and I am definitely not going to go back and argue the point. I just wanted to know whether there was anything about "low alcohol" in the law.

The difficulty lies in telling an 18yo from a 15yo, not always that easy. And parents/relatives/friends don't always tell the truth.

If you want to drink alcohol in public, you can apply for an ID; imagine even 16yos are eligible. If not, then maybe be prepared not to get served.

ID - oyster, passport, provisional for scooters, birth certificate.

The pub probably has a policy of no alcohol without id if the drinker looks under 21 or 25. It's their license if they are caught out so not worth the risk from their perspective. Even though she's legal a responsible license holder will ask for proof - you buying it for her would be treated as a proxy sale.

She can get a photo I'd with the PASS logo here: validateuk.co.uk/

It doesnt actually matter what the law is. You were the one that brought the law into it.

Could your cousin prove they were 16? If not what the law says is meaningless.

Despite what the law says if the pub doesnt want to do it. They dont have to.

No, but it still doesn't mean they have to allow her to have an alcoholic drink.
Taking ID with her is pointless other than proving she is, in fact, under 18.

ijustwannadance doesn't say anything on the gov.UK site linked above about only being allowed a half, and not a pint.

www.validateuk.co.uk/official-UK-ID-Card/12-to-15-year-old-ID-card

No, you are not being unreasonable, how rude to take it without even speaking to you.

I had a similar experience where a very inexperienced manager stated it was against the law too. I didn't cause a fuss but spoke to them about it and took the correct information in there when I went in again.

@ijustwannadance she's over 18

It's been a long time since I took my exam! Used to be half a pint or a small glass of wine.

I work in a chain pub and we don't allow anyone under 18 to buy, be bought or drink alcohol on our premises fullstop.

Classic example of why people should always carry photo ID if they want alcohol. Bar staff and licencees are personally responsible and face massive fines if they serve underage people. Its not worth the risk over your hissy fit I'm afraid.

@SpartacusSaiman actually, the bar brought the law into it. I asked and they said "it's against the law". It isn't. If they said "we have the right to refuse service" then no, I wouldn't have a leg to stand on. But that's not what they said

Sorry boo, mis-read, thought she was 17.

DS2 is a team leader in a chain pub. He won't serve anyone who doesn't have ID. He's not going to risk losing his job, that's paying for himto get through uni, because someone wants a cider but can't prove how old they are.