What do you think of British alcohol laws? Do you think they are too Liberal or should American laws emulate them?

26 comments

1. I think 18 is probably too young.

2. I wish we had similar laws. Making people wait to drink at 21 is just stupid. If you can buy cigarettes but not alcohol, you gotta wonder where our priorities are. Makes no sense.

   We have some of the dumbest alcohol age laws out of all developed nations.

3. Let’s be real.

   In both our countries, kids pretty much decide for themselves when they’re going to drink alcohol.

   All the law does is decide when we stop making it a hassle.

4. Yes I think these laws are too liberal. Kids are idiots (and many adults too) so I don’t think making it legal for them to drink that young is a good idea.

5. While I’m open to reviewing our laws and making changes, my observations of British drinking culture pretty much rule it out as a model for emulation.

   I like pubs though.

6. The differentiating factor is “car culture,” where many or most American teens (16+) have access to a car and may own their own cars. When the US drinking age was lowered to 18 in the 1970s and 80s, teenage traffic deaths skyrocketed, owing to drunk driving. Every town had its tragedy. So it was raised back up to 21 in the later 1980s.

   I also believe that the UK is much stricter than the US about drunk driving, in general.

7. I think it’s a reasonable law.

   I can see lowering the drinking age in America to 18. I just can’t see 16 year olds drinking alcohol safely…

8. When my family was in Glasgow it took forever for us to find somewhere to eat because everywhere we went closed to people under 18 at 7 I think it was and my sister was 15. So no I don’t think we should emulate Britain.

9. To other Americans: I’m fully aware that most people have had alcohol before they’re 21.

   I think we would benefit from a culture shift. I don’t really like how it’s “no alcohol at all” until you’re 21, and then it’s a free for all. I think introducing teens to drinking at a younger age, but under supervision, is a way to normalize moderate alcohol intake. Some parents already do this in the home, it’s how I grew up. Around age 12-13 they let me have a taste of their drinks. Starting when I was about 15-16, my parents would let me have a drink on occasion at home. I’d MUCH rather see a teen learn how alcohol impacts them in a supervised manner like this.

   I wouldn’t be opposed to allowing older teens, in the 18-20 group to be allowed to have an alcoholic beverage at a restaurant if they are with an adult over 21. I would limit it to one beverage, and I think the current zero tolerance policy on drinking and driving on teens should still apply. (But I’m not opposed to a zero tolerance drinking and driving policy generally…)

10. I think our laws are fine the way they are

11. I think the laws should be even more liberal than the UK, more like Germany (16 year olds can buy beer or wine, liquor at 18).

    DUI laws should be stricter, maybe a 5 year license suspension for first offense, lifetime for second offense.

12. We don’t know or care about your laws. We have our own issues to worry about.

13. This seems pretty close to some state alcohol laws in the US.

14. Once you turn 25, you stop caring about alcohol laws until you have teenage kids.

15. I honestly couldn’t care about Britain’s drinking *laws*. I want nothing to do with the culture of getting hammered into next week every time you go to the pub.

16. Alcohol laws vary state by state. In some (many?) states, any minor accompanied by a parent is permitted to drink with their permission at home or at an establishment. Anybody is allowed on the premises at an establishment that serves alcohol, it’s up to the restaurant or pub to determine what age is not allowed on site.

    The biggest difference is the drinking age.

17. I was not comfortable with the amount and degree of public drunkenness I saw in the UK when I was there. And you’re encouraged, as a good traveller, to just say “Well, that’s their culture”. So I did.

    But I don’t want it here, and I expect that “well, that’s our culture” thing to be returned or it’s nonsense.

18. The only alcohol law that makes any sense is the German Beer Purity law.

19. Age doesn’t matter, it’s about drinking culture. In America, whether their 18, 21 or 30, being shit faced drunk at 3pm, Drinking a beer on lunch hour, public drunkenness are not acceptable. Nothing ruins a night out more than drunk people. Our social lives don’t revolve around alcohol. I personally, would hate if America adopted British drinking laws and culture.

20. No. The British are basically functional alcoholics, fuck that noise

21. American living in Europe, our US laws on alcohol and other things SUCK

22. Nope. Among other things, I’m not a fan of allowing 18 year olds to start shitting up bars.

23. Something like 38 states allow minors to drink alcohol in different contexts. The law here really controls purchase. [Here’s a map](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Underage_consumption_map_2007.gif), though I don’t know if it’s still up to date 15 years later. But yeah, the general policy tending towards making it forbidden is not helpful.

24. Too many teenagers drive in the US. Too many 18 year olds will not drink in a responsible way. Bad mix. We have enough carnage.

25. Okay so if you’re 16/17, you can have a beer at a pub, but you can’t buy it yourself but also adults can’t buy alcohol for you? I’m confused.

26. I respect their laws, but I would not emulate them.