I'll be traveling to London Nov 19th for the first time. I see some restarants say they are "licensed." What does this mean? Do I need to worry about Mad Cow disease? Also, can I take my 16 year old son into a pub in London or is it like taking him into a bar in America? (Not a good thing to do, lots of frowns)

?Licensed? means that the restaurant can sell alcoholic drinks. As far as I know there is no problem taking a 16 year old into most pubs, provided he doesn?t have an alcoholic drink.<BR><BR>I personally wouldn?t worry about mad cows disease, but then I personally don?t eat beer. If you are worried just avoid beef.<BR>

Some pubs welcome families, they sit in a section away from the bar.They serve food and as long as minors are not in the bar area or drinking alcoholic drinks-they are usually ok, although sometimes pubs are not that comfortable as far as being smoke filled and crowded..especially at lunch time and just after everyone gets out of work.Although I would bet that a 16 year old would think it all very cool<BR>C

Pubs vary enormously, but a quick look inside will tell you if its OK.Nobody will look askance.<BR>

And since the drinking age there is 18, as long as your son isn't very young looking, no one's going to bat an eye.

Laurie<BR><BR>You may regret having asked about taking your son into an English pub, as it is not that straightforward. <BR><BR>Licensing simply means that the premises are legally permitted to sell alcohol whether it is a pub, restaurant, or shop. <BR><BR>As for taking a child into a pub it is an offence to sell intoxicating liquor to a person under 18 or to allow them to drink alcohol on the premises. <BR><BR>Now it starts to get complicated. Generally persons under 18 may not purchase alcohol but persons aged 16 or over may purchase beer, porter, cider or perry for consumption at a meal in a part of the premises usually set apart for the service of meals which is not a bar. (so if the pub has a dining area away from the bar your son could sit and have a beer!)<BR><BR>This will not apply to you but children under the age of 14 are only allowed into a pub as long as it has a children’s certificate - a part of the requirement to obtaining one is that the pub sells food, has a separate eating area and sells non-alcoholic drinks. Children have to be out of the pub at 9pm but they are allowed 30 minutes eating up time beyond this.<BR><BR>You may find that many pubs in central London operate an over 21’s policy – an embarrassment for Tony Blair when his 16 year old was found drunk in Leicester Square after partaking of intoxicating liquor at a nearby bar. You'll normally see the over 21s only sign clearly displayed on the doors.<BR><BR>If in doubt whether your son is allowed into any pub just ask the bartender.<BR>