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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

Can I serve alcohol?

14 replies

LittleWonder · 03/03/2009 20:19

My soon to be 17 yo DD is having a joint party in a hall. As well as being for birthdays it is also a fund raiser. tickets to cost 2.50 - she wants to say includes a drink and have some beers or wine. Is this allowed? What is allowed?
I'm sure some of the kids will bring their own stuff hidden away, and there's nothing i can do about that, I just thought maybe if they were treated like adults and served a drink they might respond?

OP posts:

AMumInScotland · 03/03/2009 20:53

My immediate reaction is that if you're charging for a ticket then it could count as you selling alcohol to under-18s. Also, I'm not sure how I'd feel about the issue more generally - I do let DS (15) have wine, but not all parents do, so they might not be happy about it.

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 03/03/2009 20:56

I think this is a legally very dodgy area as there is a possibility that it could be construed as selling drinks to minors. But someone on here must know the rules on this - someone always does. As far as parents minding goes - I suspect most would be ok about it for 17 year olds, but are there likely to be any younger teenagers there?

Original poster

LittleWonder · 03/03/2009 21:00

16 youngest. I have to go but will check back to see if any wise owls know the answer.

OP posts:

llareggub · 03/03/2009 21:01

Wouldn't you need a license for this? I've no idea really, but I'm sure I remember some threads about needing a temporary license to sell alcohol. Now, if you were giving the alcohol away that would be different, but charging for a ticket is dubious.

I won't comment on the morals/legality of serving alcohol to children who are under-age. I'll leave that to people with teenagers, my DS is only 2 and I have an alcoholic DH so my views are somewhat extreme!

BecauseImWorthIt · 03/03/2009 21:03

No. You're a parent, and alcohol isn't allowed until they're 18. You shouldn't appear to be condoning this, whatever your DD wants/thinks.

And I would also lay it on with a trowel that alcohol won't be allowed and you'll make sure of that!

(And I speak as someone who likes a drink or three)

cat64 · 03/03/2009 21:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

frasersmummy · 03/03/2009 21:14

I know what you mean about treating them like adults and hoping they will act like adults

you deffo cant say the entry ticket includes an alcholic drink that tantamount to selling alcohol to under-agers

Are you having food ??? The law states that you have to be 18 to drink in licenced premises but a teenager having dinner with an adult can have beer wine or cider from age 16.

Technically your hall only needs a licence if you are selling alcohol but the people you are hiring it from might have some rules re alcohol

JodieO · 03/03/2009 21:40

Have you asked the other childrens' parents what they think about you potentially giving them alcohol?

mumeeee · 03/03/2009 23:29

No it's not a good idea to serve alcohol to under 18's. They do not have to have alcohol to have a good time.
I woild just get her to help you make some interesting non alcoholic cocktails

AussieSim · 03/03/2009 23:36

Over here you could get done for supplying alcohol to minors. Just around the corner from where I live so teenagers had a party at one of their homes. It was finishing at around 3.30am when an 18 yo says he will lay on the road (very quiet at that time of night) and pretend to be a human speed hump. A 16yo friend of his says - and I will pretend to run over you. Drunken idea? Needless to say the driver didn't 'pretend' very well and the 18 yo died. We all assume that the parents at the house where the party was held were charged by police - as well as having to live with the guilt for the rest of their lives. Of course the 16yo is in a pile of trouble as well, despite lack of intent. I only have littlies at the moment but the stuff scares the pants off me.

risingstar · 04/03/2009 08:50

Don't go there! Seriously it is not worth contemplating. No doubt they will bring their own and this will be problem enough. If you are dishing the stuff out in a public (ish) place, how do you confiscate the 2 bottles of cheap vodka that each kid will turn up with?

if you are selling tickets i most certainly would not offer free alcohol. I heard of a PTA fundraiser where they did this and were prosecuted under licensing law.

bagsforlife · 04/03/2009 08:56

I think that you have to accept that they WILL bring alcohol. Most 17 year olds drink alcohol, whether anyone thinks that is right or wrong. Some won't drink alcohol but they will be in the minority, and from my teens experience those that are driving are pretty good about not drinking and driving.

Whether you can serve alcohol or not, I am not sure. I would ask the people renting out the hall and if they say no alcohol then that sorts it out for you. However, I would think providing alcohol at a private party with food is prob ok. The selling tickets idea negates the need for a licence (if I remember rightly from my PTA days) but then there is a different problem re. selling tickets to under 18s!

It is a very difficult situation re. the alcohol and under age drinking. Some parents approve, some don't, some don't approve but their kids are drinking anyway (usually the worse offenders).

tatt · 04/03/2009 09:20

rules on alcohol have been tightened up so I don't know what they currently are but think it would be better to tell her the hall rules prohibit serving alcohol to those under 18. Maybe provide grape juice, oasis fizzy water or caffeinated drinks if you think any of them are likely to drink them.

I wouldn't like an adult to give alcohol to my underage child without telling me and selling it to them would be even worse.

Original poster

LittleWonder · 04/03/2009 13:49

Okay. No alcohol then.

OP posts:

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