Written Question·Home Office·UIN 119764

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Tabled: 10 March 2026
Answered: 19 March 2026

Question

Mr Peter Bedford

ConservativeMid Leicestershire

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of lowering the age for alcohol purchasing to 16.

Answer

Sarah Jones
The Government has no plans to lower the legal age for purchasing alcohol from 18 in England and Wales.This is consistent with the Licensing Act 2003 objective of protecting children from harm.It remains an offence to sell alcohol to under-18s and license...

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