What is the law on drinking alcohol in public?

Drinking alcohol in public is not illegal. However, some towns and cities, which have experienced problems with drunken behaviour, have been allowed to create their own by-laws that ban the consumption of alcohol in public. These “alcohol-free zones” are usually are limited to the town centres, parks and occasionally residential areas where the drinking of alcohol is seen to cause particular problems. London Transport has also banned drinking on buses, trains, trams and the underground.
As well as alcohol-free zones in towns, local councils may seek to implement one-off bans for a particular event or festival, to prevent alcohol-related problems occurring. There are often locally imposed restrictions on drinking when travelling to or from sporting events (mostly football matches) on public transport and on entering a stadium while carrying alcohol.

One key reason for restricting the consumption of alcohol in public places is that alcohol is linked very closely with crime and antisocial behaviour. The UK government says that alcohol is a factor in nearly half of all violent crimes committed in the UK. Where rowdiness and drunkenness are seen to persist in town centres, it can mean other people are reluctant to come into town, so their social lives are restricted.

It is illegal to be drunk and disorderly in a public place under the criminal law. Police are authorised to issue on-the-spot fines to those exhibiting intimidating drunken behaviour. The fine is determined according to the severity of the incident. The police also have the right confiscate alcohol individuals are carrying.

Anyone found to be breaking the law persistently as a result of drinking may be punished with an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO). This would limit the bars or pubs the person could enter, and would restrict their movements. Higher fines and jail sentences can result from ignoring an ASBO. If a person is punished with an ASBO or has repeatedly breached the terms of their ASBO, they are advised to contact a solicitor specialising in criminal law for legal advice as soon as possible.

It is worth mentioning here that it is against the law for anyone under 18 to buy alcohol in a pub, off-licence or any type of shop, or for anyone to buy alcohol for someone under 18 to consume in a pub or a public place.

Also, drinking is regulated strictly because of the connection to drink driving. Drink driving is a serious offence; offenders can receive serious drink driving penalties. Drink driving penalties include not only loss of licence and fines, but possibly also a criminal record. Obviously, drink driving penalties vary depending on the seriousness and circumstances of the incident.

For further legal advice on the law on drinking in a public place or drink driving offences and drink driving penalties, it is advisable to speak to a solicitor specialising in criminal law.