Age you have to be to legally drink alcohol in the UK might surprise you

30 December 2023 , 13:00

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The age you can legally drink alcohol may shock you (Stock Image) (Image: Getty Images)

Many people enjoy an alcoholic tipple at Christmastime - whether it's prosecco, mulled wine, or something a little stronger - but the legal age to drink booze in your own home may come as a shock.

When the Christmas dinner is finished, the chocolates are getting devoured, and you're lazing in front of the telly, it may be an almost Pavlovian response to reach for a bevvy. But if your children ask for something alcoholic, what would you do?

Some parents may be happy to give their teen a sip of a snowball cocktail, containing advocaat and lemonade, but did you know the legal age to drink alcohol in a private premises is just five years old? So, what is the law surrounding drinking underage?

We all know that the legal age to buy alcohol is 18, and in some places, if you look under 25 years of age, you may be asked for your ID as proof you're old enough. According to the leading children's charity NSPCC, it's against the law for someone under the age of 18 to purchase alcohol, for under 18s to ask anyone over 18 to purchase alcohol for them, and for someone under the age of five to drink alcohol.

However, it's perfectly legal for over 18s to buy beer, wine, or cider for 16 and 17-year-olds if they're having a meal together in licensed premises, like a pub, and for five to 17-year-olds to drink alcohol at home or other private premises.

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This means that if you were comfortable with it, you could give your five to 17-year-old something a little stronger, provided that they're in your home. The NSPCC recommends "talking about alcohol early" as it "can prevent your child from binge drinking in their late teens." They also said: "Try not to lecture your child" about the potential risks of alcohol.

They also suggested it may be a good idea to "ask them what they know about alcohol", ensuring that they know how alcohol makes you feel, "how much is too much", and you could even discuss the law around drinking with them. They wrote: "It's important to try to be a good role model in front of your children. If they see you drinking heavily, they could be encouraged to take risks."

So while your child may be able to indulge in a sip of a tipple with you, it's important that they do so under adult supervision, and with moderation. The NHS recommends that "men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis."

Danielle Kate Wroe