I'm 17, can I go into a pub at night?

May be a weird question, but recently lots of my friends and I have been invited out to pubs with some of our older friends and we rarely go because none of us are sure if we'd be allowed in. We wouldn't be able to order alcohol (cos everywhere seems to be IDing now!) but would we be allowed to go and sit in a pub or would we be IDed and thrown out? I've been in during the day and not been thrown out, but does the law change at night? Thanks for replies. x

Reply 1

space_aura

1

lots of pubs in town centres have bouncers on a Sat night so you do have to be 18.
then again lots of pubs don't have bouncers.

so take that as you will.

Reply 2

sonicboooom

You might get thrown out even if you're not drinking because they might suspect you of drinking, i.e. your over-age friends would be, so they could be buying drinks for you. But legally i think you need to be with a guardian if you're under 18 after 9pm although i may be wrong, and of course all places have their own individual policies.

Reply 3

hannah_dru

2

I think you can. Most oubs I think you're allowed in from the age of 12 as long as you don't try to buy alcohol.

Reply 4

space_aura

1

hannah_dru

I think you can. Most oubs I think you're allowed in from the age of 12 as long as you don't try to buy alcohol.

not the case at all.
loads of pubs i have been in don't accept under 18s after a certain time of night.

Reply 5

hannah_dru

2

Really? I never knew that.

Reply 6

CJ

TSR Group Staff

21

space_aura

not the case at all.
loads of pubs i have been in don't accept under 18s after a certain time of night.

The pub won't fork out for bouncers for no reason... so it wouldn't really be the sort of place a 12 year old would want to be in...

Really depends where you live mind you... some places will be stricter than others, and if you get refused, move on to the next. More than likely you'll get in somewhere.

Reply 7

*pink_sapphires*

OP

1

I live in Bedford and they seem to ask for ID everywhere now.

So I could go in before, say 9pm? I feel like going into a couple of pubs and asking, but then they'd know who I was and so I'd definitely get chucked out if I went back! haha

Reply 8

Meliae

*pink_sapphires*

I live in Bedford and they seem to ask for ID everywhere now.

So I could go in before, say 9pm? I feel like going into a couple of pubs and asking, but then they'd know who I was and so I'd definitely get chucked out if I went back! haha

I was just about to suggest asking. Maybe you should get a friend who's clearly over 18 to ask?

Reply 9

space_aura

1

yea.
be warned many town's bouncers are all linked up via mic and walkie talkie and can pass on info of under age people trying systematically to get into places.

needless to say this method is more for stopping troublemakers...which i guess you arent.

Reply 10

*pink_sapphires*

OP

1

space_aura

yea.
be warned many town's bouncers are all linked up via mic and walkie talkie and can pass on info of under age people trying systematically to get into places.

needless to say this method is more for stopping troublemakers...which i guess you arent.

Nah, I'm not a troublemaker. I only have 6 months to wait til I'm 18 and I know it'll probably fly by and when I have A2 work to do, I won't have time to go out much anyway. Would just be nice to go out every now and then with some of my older mates. They're quite understanding though and we do go out other places, but I'm beginning to feel a bit guilty about going to other places when I know that 17 year olds will be getting into pubs and not being thrown out. I just don't want to get a bad record or anything in town!

Reply 11

CJ

TSR Group Staff

21

OH, also... it depends on the day.

On a Friday/Saturday our local bouncers are usually on from about 9.30 - 10.
But during the week/Sunday they don't bother (or at least not the places I go to).

Reply 12

brimstone

7

Where I live, in a few pubs once it gets past nine in the evening, police come in and check if everyone has ID. If someone doesn't, or they're underage, they'll get thrown out. :s-smilie:

Reply 13

*Sparkle*

17

If you don't mind staying in one place when you might get away with it if you go around sevenish. It's a bit early, but it'll do if you're desperate haha.

Reply 14

sonicboooom

Yeh, thats true, get to places early before the bouncers start. Luckily when i was under 18 we had a few places that rarely ID'd but it seemed to get stricter the closer i got to 18, i think i actually went to the pub more when i was 16 than 17! Also, would a fake ID work? NUS sometimes works with bouncers.

Reply 15

*pink_sapphires*

OP

1

loads of my mates have had their fake IDs taken off them. I might try and convince some of my friends who are my age to go to the live music place in town cos u can get in there when ur 16 (thats their age limit). my older mates go there, but my friends who are my age dont go there and i want the two groups to mix really! i don't like separating them all out :frown:

Reply 16

Kyri

15

Some places don't seem to check for ID. I've managed to get into this pub near me since I was 16 and they have rarely asked for ID, if at all. To be honest though, not many young people hang out there, so that could be something to do with it. I guess that means if you are prepared to go to a slightly less 'popular' pub you might get in. That's good if you just want to go to sit down with your friends and chat over a pint, rather than go to meet hot guys/girls.

Reply 17

Psyk

16

If there aren't any bouncers then it's unlikely anyone will tell you to leave. Just don't order any drinks, even if they're not alcoholic. A lot of places will only serve over 18s even if they aren't buying alcohol.