While some places have bans on public drinking or require permits for alcohol sales, others allow alcohol in unlimited quantities and don’t place any restrictions on where it can be consumed.
It is a good idea to be aware of the local laws regarding alcohol consumption because, for example, you cannot be found drunk in UK pubs.
Being intoxicated in UK pubs can cause fines
A UK law forbids intoxication in pubs as well as “any highway or other public area, whether a building or not”, as stated by section 12 of the Licensing Act 1872.
Also, selling alcohol to someone intoxicated or being disorderly is against the law. The police may issue a £90 Fixed Penalty Notice to anyone who sells alcohol to a drunk individual following the Licensing Act of 2003. If it ends up in court, the fine can be raised to £1,000.
Alcohol Consumption Laws from Around the World
These laws help regulate how people consume alcohol, and they all have their unique history. Let’s explore what some of the alcohol laws from abroad comprise.
You can’t bicycle drunk in Germany
Cycling is not a safe alternative to driving if you want to get home after a night of drinking
because you are actively participating in road traffic, and you will be subject to strict fines if you cause an accident or are stopped with alcohol in your blood.
Germany has a provision that allows police to seize the driver’s license of anyone found cycling while intoxicated and requires a medical and psychiatric evaluation known as an MPA.
It is illegal to get a fish drunk in Ohio
One of the oddest regulations in Ohio is that it is prohibited to get a fish drunk. However, this has just been thought to be a rumour and not one where this is substantial evidence that such a law exists.
It is illegal to crush beer cans between your breast in Australia
Crushing beer cans between your breasts in a pub is banned in Western Australia. A 31-year-old barmaid who works at the Premier Hotel in Pinjarra, south of Perth, was fined $1000 for crushing beer cans between her breasts because it is apparently against the law.
In France, driver breathalyser kits are required
A controversial rule requiring all drivers in France always to maintain one of their breathalyser kits in their vehicles was in force from 2013 until it was repealed in late 2019. France requires drivers to have a breathalyser kit in their cars to avoid an immediate fine. The government put it into place to reduce the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities.
Conclusion
There are many strange alcohol consumption laws around the world. In some countries, it is unlawful to drink in public, while in others, it is perfectly acceptable. In some places, alcohol can only be purchased from specific shops, while in others, it can be bought anywhere.
So next time you’re planning a trip, be sure to check out the local Alcohol Consumption Laws – you might be surprised by what you find!
