Age Requirements for Great British Beer Festival???

Don't know what the admission rules for that particular event is but legally he would be allowed in.

I think in practice it wouldn't be a problem anyway; people start going to pubs here long before that age :-)

Only if you want to :-)

I've never known anyone be asked for formal age ID either for admission or at the bars. Legally the 18 age limit applies when purchasing alcohol, but unless the friend looks very young I don't think there'll be a problem buying the odd beer, especially if s/he's with older people and behaving him/herself. Underage drinking isn't perceived as a problem at beer festivals.

Of course, if the underage person is happy drinking soft drinks then there isn't a problem at all. In the UK anyone over 14 can drink nonalcoholic drinks in licenced premises if the licensee doesn't object.

HTH, Paul

-- Paul Sherwin Consulting

Bruce, my feeling is that GBBF runs the same age rules as most decent UK pubs - if you behave fairly well and are 18 or older then you are welcome inside & OK to drink alcohol.

You might want to ring or email CAMRA to check tho, as I've not heard anything from them on this exact point before, and your son might be less happy to come & not drink this time :~)

cheers, MikeMcG.

Not quite correct, he *could* be allowed in under certain conditions.

As it stands the licence is not a full on licence so the terms and conditions are not what people would expect of a normal pub.

Even if it were a normal pub the 17 year old would be restricted in what they could and could not do or consume.

Ah, yes, but Bruce is a responsible adult and has quite rightly asked what the situation is before even contemplating coming with the youth.

Since we're talking about a 17 year old then they can, under the stated conditions, drink certain alcoholic beverages provided the licence permits this and the licensee is agreeable.

Sorry Bruce, I missed the bit about the 17y.o. friend.

I'm guessing officially, no, at 17y.o. he would not be allowed to buy alcohol if CAMRA were made fully aware of his age, but that in practice if he looks about 18 & behaves well, & maybe someone else goes to the bar . . . ? cheers MikeMcG

Didn't this used to be applicable when they were eating, something to do with cider, but cant remember the rest at the moment.

I've been attending the GBBF and other beer festivals with no age problems since I was 16.

BTN

The law seems to have changed since I was a licensee, I seem to have a dim recollection that if you were over 16 you could drink cider or perry. That does not appear to be the case now unless you are having a meal.. Here is a plain english explanation of the law, probably limited, but I have not read all of it!

and if anyone has the patience here is the real thing

Regards,

Stuart Hudson

Thanks for that Stuart, reading (some of) the text it becomes apparent that as you say the law has changed on this point and that the loophole regarding cider and perry has shut.

For Bruces question the answer is in

in which it makes (reasonably) clear that provided the child is over 16 (17 counts :-) and they are accompanied by a person over 18.

The child may *not* consume alcohol.

This suggests that it is legal for someone aged 16 or 17 to consume beer, wine or cider as part of the consumption of a "table meal" on relevant premises, provided they are accompanied by someone 18 or over.

Obviously this is not going to apply to the GBBF.

AIUI the previous exemption was that people aged 16 or 17 could buy beer or cider (but not wine) *themselves* under such circumstances.

Ah, that wonderful, harmless cider or perry! It amuses me no end at beer fests watching the young girls (dirty old man!) getting into the harmless cider or perry at 6/7/8% whilst studiously ignoring the dangerous beers at 3/4/5%.

KeithS

If in doubt about the 17yr old, kit him out in a wig of straggly grey hair with a matching false beard. Put him in an old, crumpled orange t-shirt too. (Don't bother with sandals, spills can be hellish on woollen socks).

He'll fit right in.

I'm hearing you in glorious stero - type.

The subtlety of your humour however is lost on me.

All in jest. I should have put one of those tedious ;-) thingies in there.

Ah, the trouble is that the crumpled orange thingie would probably be washed (as would the wearer) thus making them stand out like the proverbial...

BTW. If anyone objects, I think I'm entitled to make the jest. :-P

Why ;-)

John B

On Wed, 9 Mar 2005 22:35:11 +0000, Jeff Pickthall wrote (in message ):

You forgot the fishing hat with loads of badges and pewter tankard fastened to his belt. Maybe the t-shirt should have some 'witty' Oliver Reed slogan on just to highlight a responsible, connoisseur's approach to alcohol. ;-) ;-) ;-)

And then he can be a target for the shaving manufacturer who wants to have a stand at the festival...

And be drafted in to be a steward right away!