My husband and I will be in various locations in Northern England in June/July 2008 with our two teen boys, ages almost 17 and almost 18. What are the restrictions (if any) on them going into pubs? If it makes any difference, one of them (the younger one, oddly) is over 6' and looks a good bit older than he is, whereas the older one is small and younger looking....

Drinking age in the UK is 18. I don't think how old they look matters much. <i>Exception: it is not an offence to buy a drink for a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old in conjunction with a table meal in a restaurant as long as the meal is not in the bar area. Similarly, a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old can purchase a drink in a restaurant with a table meal under these restrictions.</i>

Here's a comprehensive guide to pub lore, law, and etiquette: fancyapint.com

Yes drinking age is 18. Over 16s are certainly allowed in pubs though they may not legally buy/drink alcohol. In practice it depends on the pub staff. In all likelihood if the teenagers are with their parents/other adults no questions will be asked. It is very rare for teenagers to be asked for ID as it is in the USA. The only time this may happen is with a group of rowdy-looking young lads where a publican might not want them in the pub. I say this based on experience with my own UK teenagers in London.

I saw a travel show that said teens younger than 18 can go into the pubs but cannot drink at the bar.

One of my sons was alone in England when he was 17. At first, the barman was reluctant to serve him alcohol, but when other adult guests intervened, my son was served as much beer as he wanted.

When parents are present, it is never a problem.

Thanks for the replies, all! Robespierre, thanks for the link. I think that I did not articulate my question very well - I am not asking about whether or not the boys can drink in pubs; I was wondering whether there are laws about specific times of day that they can/cannot be in pubs. I looked at the fancyapint site but I'm still not quite clear. For example, if we are staying in an inn whose restaurant is also a pub, there is no problem with the boys dining there at night, right? Or are there some pubs where you must be over 18 even if you only plan on eating, not drinking?

They'll be able to eat at the inn without a problem.

The only place I've seen any ID checking are:
1. swank clubs
2. a group of rough looking teens

A good many pubs hve children dining in them, let alone teens. Legally teens are not barred from entering a pub. Admittance is at the discretion of the publican. Most (read &gt;90%) of them wont object

There is a big campagin now to try and encourge sensable drinking and also the license laws changed a few years ago to allow 24 hour opening . Pubs and places still have to apply for a license to open the hours they wnated and could be turned down for a late license. very few places applied for 24 hour drinking or got the 24 hour license. I side tracked, anyway part of this change in the law also gave police more powers in getting places that had a bad name , i.e known for serving underage drinkers or rowdy trouble like fights all the time. This has happened as I have read in the paper about a couple in teh last few years.
Also not sure who does them, but spot checks can be made on venues the ability to fine pubs for undergae drinking was made easier. Even thou 18 is the leagal age to drink most have a sign behind the bar that says something along the lines if if you do not look over 21 you will be id. As long as your id proves your over 18 you will be allowed to buy it over the bar. This is for people buying alcohol.

traveller1959
How long ago was that 17 allowed to buy as much as he wanted due to the ease in which landlords can now get fined it would be harder to do, unless the landlord was very silly.
I was only at a pub the other day upstairs ina room for a 50th and someone had bought a couple of girls and a boy an alcho pop. This is apub with a restutant down stairs.I would say they were about 16, the bar manager was not happy about them drinking them and was asking for proof of ages ans who bought them.
http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/england-and-wales.html
I would think at the age you sons are and they are with you even if you took them in to a pub that does not server food, you should not have a problem taking them in with you at what ever time you like. Some pubs have a no children after 9pm policy but that is really aimed at small children not 16 and 17 year olds. If the you are in any doubt when you go just ask and most lanldords should be OK with it.

They can certainly go into the pub with you and have a meal and/or juice or soft drink of some variety.

If they will or will not be allowed (not talking legality, but what pubs will do) to drink will depend on the pub and the circumstances.

Our step-daughters at 16 and 17 were allowed to have a glass of wine with dinner with us. don;t know what would have happened if they had walked up to the bar by themselves.

I think it depends a lot on the location of the pub and the time of day. Pubs seem to be more lenient in the countryside and during the day. We have been asked for ID in London in the evening. This seems to be especially true in the west end.

children (legally under 18 you are a child) used to have to stay in a room away from the bar but that law was changed a couple of years ago.

It is up to the landlord whether children are allowed into a pub and few bother to restrict children, after all you are paying customers.

I wouldn't worry about taking them into a pub and I would be really surprised if anyone said anything about older teenagers in a pub.

Thanks again to all for the replies. Just didn't want to have my poor boys starve to death for want of a good pub dinner! Sounds like we are ok.

Have a great trip stefi!

Thanks, Viajero2! I know we are going to have, as the boys would say, an &quot;awesome&quot; time!

&gt;..when other adult guests intervened, my son was served as much beer as he wanted.

And they kept buying him pints until he was as drunk as a skunk.

I know; my first thought - yikes! &quot;Other adult guests&quot;?? &quot;as much beer as he wanted&quot;?? Although I guess there's not a huge amount of difference betweeen illegal 17 and legal 18, huh?

Many European countries have a legal drinking age of 16 for beer and wine, even when not accompanied by an adult. So England is actually a tiny bit more on the stricter side than France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, etc.

&gt;&gt;Although I guess there's not a huge amount of difference betweeen illegal 17 and legal 18, huh?&lt;&lt;

Well, there certainly wasn't the umpty-mumble years ago that I was 17.....

While I would generally agree with what other people have written, we did have a problem recently at a pub near Chiselhurst just outside London. Although it appeared to be a standard chain pub with a restaurant, and it was Sunday lunchtime, they had a notice on the door saying no under-21s.

Pub landlords can make rules like that if they want to. In the vast majority of places, however, if you order alcohol with food, nobody asks who is going to drink what.