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Does a university id card imply that I can legally drink in the UK?
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I hold Swedish passport and I am traveling to UK this month. I've read that the legal age of drinking alcohol in UK is 16 to 18 depending on the type of beverage.
I am an undergraduate student and look about 18. Can I use my university card (Swedish uni) in place of my passport in bar entries? Since a typical university student is 18 or above so, can my university card be shown as a proof of age, even if it doesn't have a date of birth on it?
uk legal alcohol
edited 3 hours ago
Giorgio
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asked 3 hours ago
72D
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up vote
1
down vote
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I hold Swedish passport and I am traveling to UK this month. I've read that the legal age of drinking alcohol in UK is 16 to 18 depending on the type of beverage.
I am an undergraduate student and look about 18. Can I use my university card (Swedish uni) in place of my passport in bar entries? Since a typical university student is 18 or above so, can my university card be shown as a proof of age, even if it doesn't have a date of birth on it?
uk legal alcohol
edited 3 hours ago
Giorgio
29.7k861171
asked 3 hours ago
72D
63
New contributor
72D is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
On a purely technical note, as your source notes, those are the UK ages to buy alcohol, and to consume it in public premises. Your parents can give you alcohol in private younger.
– origimbo
2 hours ago
@origimbo, I thought that maybe I can guess the rules of bars through the rules of buying alcohol. I want to experience bars in UK not just about drinking.
– 72D
2 hours ago
Yes, that's what 90% of the law on drinking in the UK is actually about. However there are places where drinking alcohol anywhere below 18 or 21 is illegal. To avoid confusing other people, it's also worth explicitly pointing out that the 16 and 17 exception in bars applies only to drinking and not buying alcohol, and that pubs generally can choose to accept (non-drinking) children with adults.
– origimbo
2 hours ago
Actually, to clarify, are you looking to enter bars, as in the body of your question and in your comment, or to drink, as in the title? Both the rules, and the implementation do differ.
– origimbo
2 hours ago
@origimbo, in Sweden, the bars I know, check ID at the door and not again when asking for drink inside the bar. I meant both entering and drinking, but entering matters mostly.
– 72D
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I hold Swedish passport and I am traveling to UK this month. I've read that the legal age of drinking alcohol in UK is 16 to 18 depending on the type of beverage.
I am an undergraduate student and look about 18. Can I use my university card (Swedish uni) in place of my passport in bar entries? Since a typical university student is 18 or above so, can my university card be shown as a proof of age, even if it doesn't have a date of birth on it?
uk legal alcohol
edited 3 hours ago
Giorgio
29.7k861171
asked 3 hours ago
72D
63
New contributor
72D is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I hold Swedish passport and I am traveling to UK this month. I've read that the legal age of drinking alcohol in UK is 16 to 18 depending on the type of beverage.
I am an undergraduate student and look about 18. Can I use my university card (Swedish uni) in place of my passport in bar entries? Since a typical university student is 18 or above so, can my university card be shown as a proof of age, even if it doesn't have a date of birth on it?
uk legal alcohol
uk legal alcohol
edited 3 hours ago
Giorgio
29.7k861171
asked 3 hours ago
72D
63
New contributor
72D is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 3 hours ago
Giorgio
29.7k861171
asked 3 hours ago
72D
63
New contributor
72D is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 3 hours ago
Giorgio
29.7k861171
edited 3 hours ago
Giorgio
29.7k861171
edited 3 hours ago
Giorgio
29.7k861171
29.7k861171
asked 3 hours ago
72D
63
New contributor
72D is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 3 hours ago
72D
63
asked 3 hours ago
72D
63
63
New contributor
72D is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
72D is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
72D is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
On a purely technical note, as your source notes, those are the UK ages to buy alcohol, and to consume it in public premises. Your parents can give you alcohol in private younger.
– origimbo
2 hours ago
@origimbo, I thought that maybe I can guess the rules of bars through the rules of buying alcohol. I want to experience bars in UK not just about drinking.
– 72D
2 hours ago
Yes, that's what 90% of the law on drinking in the UK is actually about. However there are places where drinking alcohol anywhere below 18 or 21 is illegal. To avoid confusing other people, it's also worth explicitly pointing out that the 16 and 17 exception in bars applies only to drinking and not buying alcohol, and that pubs generally can choose to accept (non-drinking) children with adults.
– origimbo
2 hours ago
Actually, to clarify, are you looking to enter bars, as in the body of your question and in your comment, or to drink, as in the title? Both the rules, and the implementation do differ.
– origimbo
2 hours ago
@origimbo, in Sweden, the bars I know, check ID at the door and not again when asking for drink inside the bar. I meant both entering and drinking, but entering matters mostly.
– 72D
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
On a purely technical note, as your source notes, those are the UK ages to buy alcohol, and to consume it in public premises. Your parents can give you alcohol in private younger.
– origimbo
2 hours ago
@origimbo, I thought that maybe I can guess the rules of bars through the rules of buying alcohol. I want to experience bars in UK not just about drinking.
– 72D
2 hours ago
Yes, that's what 90% of the law on drinking in the UK is actually about. However there are places where drinking alcohol anywhere below 18 or 21 is illegal. To avoid confusing other people, it's also worth explicitly pointing out that the 16 and 17 exception in bars applies only to drinking and not buying alcohol, and that pubs generally can choose to accept (non-drinking) children with adults.
– origimbo
2 hours ago
Actually, to clarify, are you looking to enter bars, as in the body of your question and in your comment, or to drink, as in the title? Both the rules, and the implementation do differ.
– origimbo
2 hours ago
@origimbo, in Sweden, the bars I know, check ID at the door and not again when asking for drink inside the bar. I meant both entering and drinking, but entering matters mostly.
– 72D
1 hour ago
On a purely technical note, as your source notes, those are the UK ages to buy alcohol, and to consume it in public premises. Your parents can give you alcohol in private younger.
– origimbo
2 hours ago
On a purely technical note, as your source notes, those are the UK ages to buy alcohol, and to consume it in public premises. Your parents can give you alcohol in private younger.
– origimbo
2 hours ago
@origimbo, I thought that maybe I can guess the rules of bars through the rules of buying alcohol. I want to experience bars in UK not just about drinking.
– 72D
2 hours ago
@origimbo, I thought that maybe I can guess the rules of bars through the rules of buying alcohol. I want to experience bars in UK not just about drinking.
– 72D
2 hours ago
Yes, that's what 90% of the law on drinking in the UK is actually about. However there are places where drinking alcohol anywhere below 18 or 21 is illegal. To avoid confusing other people, it's also worth explicitly pointing out that the 16 and 17 exception in bars applies only to drinking and not buying alcohol, and that pubs generally can choose to accept (non-drinking) children with adults.
– origimbo
2 hours ago
Yes, that's what 90% of the law on drinking in the UK is actually about. However there are places where drinking alcohol anywhere below 18 or 21 is illegal. To avoid confusing other people, it's also worth explicitly pointing out that the 16 and 17 exception in bars applies only to drinking and not buying alcohol, and that pubs generally can choose to accept (non-drinking) children with adults.
– origimbo
2 hours ago
Actually, to clarify, are you looking to enter bars, as in the body of your question and in your comment, or to drink, as in the title? Both the rules, and the implementation do differ.
– origimbo
2 hours ago
Actually, to clarify, are you looking to enter bars, as in the body of your question and in your comment, or to drink, as in the title? Both the rules, and the implementation do differ.
– origimbo
2 hours ago
@origimbo, in Sweden, the bars I know, check ID at the door and not again when asking for drink inside the bar. I meant both entering and drinking, but entering matters mostly.
– 72D
1 hour ago
@origimbo, in Sweden, the bars I know, check ID at the door and not again when asking for drink inside the bar. I meant both entering and drinking, but entering matters mostly.
– 72D
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
According to Drinkaware:
Acceptable forms of ID to prove you are over 18 include:
- A photo driving licence
- A passport
- A proof of age card, such as the PASS card from the national Proof of Age Standards Scheme.
This does not include foreign university identification.
answered 3 hours ago
Greg Hewgill
23.7k15991
2
Anecdotally, I got my first university ID at 16. It doesn't work to prove age.
– Greg Hewgill
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Since 72D has clarified they are interested in just entering drinking premises as well as in ordering alcohol in them, it might be worth summarising the relevant UK drinking culture, and how it relates to age checks. I'm too old now for a lot of this to be recent personal experience, and some of the legal points are a bit different in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but I don't believe things have changed that massively.
Firstly, the legalities on children:
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult when in places where the sale of alcohol is the main business (i.e. public houses, bars and nightclubs rather than restaurants). They can't buy or drink alcohol.
16 & 17 year olds are allowed unaccompanied. They can't buy alcohol, but can drink beer or wine with a meal if purchased by an adult with them.
Next the implementation. This depends a lot on the type of place and the time of day.
- Hotel bars will typically only ever check on ordering.
Public houses (pubs) will generally check at the bar, except for places that get rowdy enough in the evenings (mostly in town centres, especially student towns) to employ doormen/bouncers.These days many English and Welsh pubs follow "Think 21" and card anyone ordering alcohol who looks under 21 to check that they are over 18. In Scotland this is "Think 25". A few places may be over 21s only.Larger wine bars and cocktail bars are much more likely to check at the door, and to set their own higher age range.
Nightclubs all have door staff, and may have many, many house rules to be admitted. In particular large all male groups are known for being told to look elsewhere.
You have marginally more chance of convincing a doorman to let you in with non-standard ID (passport, PASS card, or EU driving licence) than you do of using it when getting served alcohol, since the in the first case the establishment isn't actually committing an offence and thus isn't at risk of losing its licence. However, if the place is busy enough to have a doorman, they're still very likely to tell you to go elsewhere. If you just want a typically British experience, without fuss or argument and without the risk of losing your passport, stick to smaller pubs, early on weekday evenings and to soft drinks. You may even get to experience a pub quiz or a meat raffle.
answered 1 hour ago
origimbo
1,33458
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
According to Drinkaware:
Acceptable forms of ID to prove you are over 18 include:
- A photo driving licence
- A passport
- A proof of age card, such as the PASS card from the national Proof of Age Standards Scheme.
This does not include foreign university identification.
answered 3 hours ago
Greg Hewgill
23.7k15991
2
Anecdotally, I got my first university ID at 16. It doesn't work to prove age.
– Greg Hewgill
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
According to Drinkaware:
Acceptable forms of ID to prove you are over 18 include:
- A photo driving licence
- A passport
- A proof of age card, such as the PASS card from the national Proof of Age Standards Scheme.
This does not include foreign university identification.
answered 3 hours ago
Greg Hewgill
23.7k15991
2
Anecdotally, I got my first university ID at 16. It doesn't work to prove age.
– Greg Hewgill
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
According to Drinkaware:
Acceptable forms of ID to prove you are over 18 include:
- A photo driving licence
- A passport
- A proof of age card, such as the PASS card from the national Proof of Age Standards Scheme.
This does not include foreign university identification.
answered 3 hours ago
Greg Hewgill
23.7k15991
According to Drinkaware:
Acceptable forms of ID to prove you are over 18 include:
- A photo driving licence
- A passport
- A proof of age card, such as the PASS card from the national Proof of Age Standards Scheme.
This does not include foreign university identification.
answered 3 hours ago
Greg Hewgill
23.7k15991
answered 3 hours ago
Greg Hewgill
23.7k15991
answered 3 hours ago
Greg Hewgill
23.7k15991
answered 3 hours ago
Greg Hewgill
23.7k15991
23.7k15991
2
Anecdotally, I got my first university ID at 16. It doesn't work to prove age.
– Greg Hewgill
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
2
Anecdotally, I got my first university ID at 16. It doesn't work to prove age.
– Greg Hewgill
3 hours ago
2
2
Anecdotally, I got my first university ID at 16. It doesn't work to prove age.
– Greg Hewgill
3 hours ago
Anecdotally, I got my first university ID at 16. It doesn't work to prove age.
– Greg Hewgill
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Since 72D has clarified they are interested in just entering drinking premises as well as in ordering alcohol in them, it might be worth summarising the relevant UK drinking culture, and how it relates to age checks. I'm too old now for a lot of this to be recent personal experience, and some of the legal points are a bit different in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but I don't believe things have changed that massively.
Firstly, the legalities on children:
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult when in places where the sale of alcohol is the main business (i.e. public houses, bars and nightclubs rather than restaurants). They can't buy or drink alcohol.
16 & 17 year olds are allowed unaccompanied. They can't buy alcohol, but can drink beer or wine with a meal if purchased by an adult with them.
Next the implementation. This depends a lot on the type of place and the time of day.
- Hotel bars will typically only ever check on ordering.
Public houses (pubs) will generally check at the bar, except for places that get rowdy enough in the evenings (mostly in town centres, especially student towns) to employ doormen/bouncers.These days many English and Welsh pubs follow "Think 21" and card anyone ordering alcohol who looks under 21 to check that they are over 18. In Scotland this is "Think 25". A few places may be over 21s only.Larger wine bars and cocktail bars are much more likely to check at the door, and to set their own higher age range.
Nightclubs all have door staff, and may have many, many house rules to be admitted. In particular large all male groups are known for being told to look elsewhere.
You have marginally more chance of convincing a doorman to let you in with non-standard ID (passport, PASS card, or EU driving licence) than you do of using it when getting served alcohol, since the in the first case the establishment isn't actually committing an offence and thus isn't at risk of losing its licence. However, if the place is busy enough to have a doorman, they're still very likely to tell you to go elsewhere. If you just want a typically British experience, without fuss or argument and without the risk of losing your passport, stick to smaller pubs, early on weekday evenings and to soft drinks. You may even get to experience a pub quiz or a meat raffle.
answered 1 hour ago
origimbo
1,33458
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Since 72D has clarified they are interested in just entering drinking premises as well as in ordering alcohol in them, it might be worth summarising the relevant UK drinking culture, and how it relates to age checks. I'm too old now for a lot of this to be recent personal experience, and some of the legal points are a bit different in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but I don't believe things have changed that massively.
Firstly, the legalities on children:
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult when in places where the sale of alcohol is the main business (i.e. public houses, bars and nightclubs rather than restaurants). They can't buy or drink alcohol.
16 & 17 year olds are allowed unaccompanied. They can't buy alcohol, but can drink beer or wine with a meal if purchased by an adult with them.
Next the implementation. This depends a lot on the type of place and the time of day.
- Hotel bars will typically only ever check on ordering.
Public houses (pubs) will generally check at the bar, except for places that get rowdy enough in the evenings (mostly in town centres, especially student towns) to employ doormen/bouncers.These days many English and Welsh pubs follow "Think 21" and card anyone ordering alcohol who looks under 21 to check that they are over 18. In Scotland this is "Think 25". A few places may be over 21s only.Larger wine bars and cocktail bars are much more likely to check at the door, and to set their own higher age range.
Nightclubs all have door staff, and may have many, many house rules to be admitted. In particular large all male groups are known for being told to look elsewhere.
You have marginally more chance of convincing a doorman to let you in with non-standard ID (passport, PASS card, or EU driving licence) than you do of using it when getting served alcohol, since the in the first case the establishment isn't actually committing an offence and thus isn't at risk of losing its licence. However, if the place is busy enough to have a doorman, they're still very likely to tell you to go elsewhere. If you just want a typically British experience, without fuss or argument and without the risk of losing your passport, stick to smaller pubs, early on weekday evenings and to soft drinks. You may even get to experience a pub quiz or a meat raffle.
answered 1 hour ago
origimbo
1,33458
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Since 72D has clarified they are interested in just entering drinking premises as well as in ordering alcohol in them, it might be worth summarising the relevant UK drinking culture, and how it relates to age checks. I'm too old now for a lot of this to be recent personal experience, and some of the legal points are a bit different in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but I don't believe things have changed that massively.
Firstly, the legalities on children:
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult when in places where the sale of alcohol is the main business (i.e. public houses, bars and nightclubs rather than restaurants). They can't buy or drink alcohol.
16 & 17 year olds are allowed unaccompanied. They can't buy alcohol, but can drink beer or wine with a meal if purchased by an adult with them.
Next the implementation. This depends a lot on the type of place and the time of day.
- Hotel bars will typically only ever check on ordering.
Public houses (pubs) will generally check at the bar, except for places that get rowdy enough in the evenings (mostly in town centres, especially student towns) to employ doormen/bouncers.These days many English and Welsh pubs follow "Think 21" and card anyone ordering alcohol who looks under 21 to check that they are over 18. In Scotland this is "Think 25". A few places may be over 21s only.Larger wine bars and cocktail bars are much more likely to check at the door, and to set their own higher age range.
Nightclubs all have door staff, and may have many, many house rules to be admitted. In particular large all male groups are known for being told to look elsewhere.
You have marginally more chance of convincing a doorman to let you in with non-standard ID (passport, PASS card, or EU driving licence) than you do of using it when getting served alcohol, since the in the first case the establishment isn't actually committing an offence and thus isn't at risk of losing its licence. However, if the place is busy enough to have a doorman, they're still very likely to tell you to go elsewhere. If you just want a typically British experience, without fuss or argument and without the risk of losing your passport, stick to smaller pubs, early on weekday evenings and to soft drinks. You may even get to experience a pub quiz or a meat raffle.
answered 1 hour ago
origimbo
1,33458
Since 72D has clarified they are interested in just entering drinking premises as well as in ordering alcohol in them, it might be worth summarising the relevant UK drinking culture, and how it relates to age checks. I'm too old now for a lot of this to be recent personal experience, and some of the legal points are a bit different in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but I don't believe things have changed that massively.
Firstly, the legalities on children:
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult when in places where the sale of alcohol is the main business (i.e. public houses, bars and nightclubs rather than restaurants). They can't buy or drink alcohol.
16 & 17 year olds are allowed unaccompanied. They can't buy alcohol, but can drink beer or wine with a meal if purchased by an adult with them.
Next the implementation. This depends a lot on the type of place and the time of day.
- Hotel bars will typically only ever check on ordering.
Public houses (pubs) will generally check at the bar, except for places that get rowdy enough in the evenings (mostly in town centres, especially student towns) to employ doormen/bouncers.These days many English and Welsh pubs follow "Think 21" and card anyone ordering alcohol who looks under 21 to check that they are over 18. In Scotland this is "Think 25". A few places may be over 21s only.Larger wine bars and cocktail bars are much more likely to check at the door, and to set their own higher age range.
Nightclubs all have door staff, and may have many, many house rules to be admitted. In particular large all male groups are known for being told to look elsewhere.
You have marginally more chance of convincing a doorman to let you in with non-standard ID (passport, PASS card, or EU driving licence) than you do of using it when getting served alcohol, since the in the first case the establishment isn't actually committing an offence and thus isn't at risk of losing its licence. However, if the place is busy enough to have a doorman, they're still very likely to tell you to go elsewhere. If you just want a typically British experience, without fuss or argument and without the risk of losing your passport, stick to smaller pubs, early on weekday evenings and to soft drinks. You may even get to experience a pub quiz or a meat raffle.
answered 1 hour ago
origimbo
1,33458
answered 1 hour ago
origimbo
1,33458
answered 1 hour ago
origimbo
1,33458
answered 1 hour ago
origimbo
1,33458
1,33458
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
72D is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
72D is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
72D is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
72D is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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On a purely technical note, as your source notes, those are the UK ages to buy alcohol, and to consume it in public premises. Your parents can give you alcohol in private younger.
– origimbo
2 hours ago
@origimbo, I thought that maybe I can guess the rules of bars through the rules of buying alcohol. I want to experience bars in UK not just about drinking.
– 72D
2 hours ago
Yes, that's what 90% of the law on drinking in the UK is actually about. However there are places where drinking alcohol anywhere below 18 or 21 is illegal. To avoid confusing other people, it's also worth explicitly pointing out that the 16 and 17 exception in bars applies only to drinking and not buying alcohol, and that pubs generally can choose to accept (non-drinking) children with adults.
– origimbo
2 hours ago
Actually, to clarify, are you looking to enter bars, as in the body of your question and in your comment, or to drink, as in the title? Both the rules, and the implementation do differ.
– origimbo
2 hours ago
@origimbo, in Sweden, the bars I know, check ID at the door and not again when asking for drink inside the bar. I meant both entering and drinking, but entering matters mostly.
– 72D
1 hour ago