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legal age to work on a public bar
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my daughter wants to work in a nightclub she is only turns seventeen can she work on the bar
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Under the Licensing Act 2003 a person under 18 is allowed to sell or supply alcohol which is being served with a sit-down meal in a premises which is only used for the service of sit-down meals.
For sales across a bar, however, every sale or supply of alcohol by someone under 18 must be specifically approved by the designated premises supervisor (DPS), the premises licence holder or someone over 18 who has been authorised by either the DPS or the premises licence holder. If the sale or supply has not been specifically approved then it is the person who knowingly allows the sale or supply to take place who is guilty of an offence.
In practice this means that someone under 18 may work in a pub, but someone responsible in that pub must specifically approve every sale or supply of alcohol that they make. Think of the example of a supermarket where under 18's work on the checkouts, but must have a supervisor come to their till and specifically approve each sale of alcohol.
Interestingly the 2003 Act did away with a the lower age limit for serving alcohol so you got this interesting situation
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-419409 /Meet-12-year-old-pub-landlord.html
For sales across a bar, however, every sale or supply of alcohol by someone under 18 must be specifically approved by the designated premises supervisor (DPS), the premises licence holder or someone over 18 who has been authorised by either the DPS or the premises licence holder. If the sale or supply has not been specifically approved then it is the person who knowingly allows the sale or supply to take place who is guilty of an offence.
In practice this means that someone under 18 may work in a pub, but someone responsible in that pub must specifically approve every sale or supply of alcohol that they make. Think of the example of a supermarket where under 18's work on the checkouts, but must have a supervisor come to their till and specifically approve each sale of alcohol.
Interestingly the 2003 Act did away with a the lower age limit for serving alcohol so you got this interesting situation
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-419409 /Meet-12-year-old-pub-landlord.html
It's unfortunate that Redcrx chose to provide that link above, because I answered incorrectly on that thread and the correct answer (from a guy who works in a local authority licensing section) has been removed.
However I can confirm (based upon reading the relevant legislation and seeing posts on AB from a solicitor who specialises in the field) that Pauln90's post is completely correct.
The Licensing Act 2003 removed the direct requirement for someone serving alcohol in a bar to be at least 18 years old. As Pauln90 explains, the situation is now the same as (for example) when you're served alcohol in a supermarket by a checkout operator who is under 18. That person can sell you the alcohol but only if they get permission from the licence holder or (more usually) from another adult member of staff to whom responsibility for authorising sales has been delegated. The supermarket manager can't give 'blanket permission' to a minor, allowing them to sell alcohol. Every single transaction must be separately authorised.
Exactly the same applies in a bar. A minor can serve alcohol but only if they seek, and obtain, permission for every individual transaction. (Having worked behind several busy bars, I would say that it would be totally impractical for a minor to work behind a nightclub bar).
Chris
However I can confirm (based upon reading the relevant legislation and seeing posts on AB from a solicitor who specialises in the field) that Pauln90's post is completely correct.
The Licensing Act 2003 removed the direct requirement for someone serving alcohol in a bar to be at least 18 years old. As Pauln90 explains, the situation is now the same as (for example) when you're served alcohol in a supermarket by a checkout operator who is under 18. That person can sell you the alcohol but only if they get permission from the licence holder or (more usually) from another adult member of staff to whom responsibility for authorising sales has been delegated. The supermarket manager can't give 'blanket permission' to a minor, allowing them to sell alcohol. Every single transaction must be separately authorised.
Exactly the same applies in a bar. A minor can serve alcohol but only if they seek, and obtain, permission for every individual transaction. (Having worked behind several busy bars, I would say that it would be totally impractical for a minor to work behind a nightclub bar).
Chris
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