APLH Age Verification 2

Question 1

What is the legal position on a person under 18 consuming alcohol in a licensed restaurant in England?

Accepted Answer

A person aged 16 or 17 may consume beer, wine, or cider with a meal in a licensed restaurant if accompanied by an adult, provided it is ordered by the adult

Answer

It is always illegal for anyone under 18 to consume alcohol

Answer

Anyone under 21 may not consume alcohol in a restaurant

Answer

There is no exception — under-18s cannot drink in any licensed premises

Question 2

What offence is committed by an adult who buys alcohol in a licensed premises and passes it to a person under 18 for consumption?

Accepted Answer

Buying alcohol for a person under 18 is an offence under s.149 Licensing Act 2003 ('buying alcohol for children')

Answer

No offence — the adult purchased the alcohol legally

Answer

A caution-level offence only, not a criminal conviction

Answer

An offence only if the under-18 is on licensed premises at the time

Question 3

What is the PASS (Proof of Age Standards Scheme) hologram?

Accepted Answer

A quality mark awarded to age-verification cards that meet nationally recognised security standards, including a biometric or security hologram

Answer

A government-issued hologram on all UK passports

Answer

A licence issued by the Home Office to certain retailers

Answer

A chip embedded in age-verification cards linked to a national database

Question 4

At what age can a young person be employed to serve alcohol in a licensed premises in England and Wales?

Accepted Answer

Persons aged 16 or 17 may serve alcohol only under the supervision of a person aged 18 or over, provided the premises licence allows it

Answer

Only those aged 21 and over may serve alcohol

Answer

Only those aged 18 and over may serve alcohol in any circumstances

Answer

There is no minimum age for serving alcohol under supervision

Question 5

Why is a staff member's personal belief that a customer 'looks over 18' not a sufficient defence against prosecution for selling to an under-18 person?

Accepted Answer

The due diligence defence requires active steps (asking for and checking ID) — merely believing the customer looks old enough without requesting ID does not constitute 'all reasonable precautions'

Answer

It is always a sufficient defence

Answer

Personal belief is only insufficient if the customer appeared to be under 16

Answer

Personal belief is a valid defence but only if corroborated by CCTV evidence

Question 6

Which organisation is primarily responsible for conducting test purchase operations on licensed premises?

Accepted Answer

Trading standards (part of the local authority) and/or the police, often working together

Answer

The police only

Answer

The licensing authority's licensing officers only

Answer

The Health and Safety Executive