7.Section 1 of the Act substitutes seven new sections for section 169 of the 1964 Act.
8.New section 169A makes it an offence for any person in licensed premises to sell alcohol to someone under 18. Previously, under section 169(1), only the licensee or his “servant” could commit this offence. There are defences available depending upon whether a person is charged by reason of his own act, or the act or default of another.
9.New section 169B makes it an offence for a person in licensed premises, if he works in the licensed premises in a capacity, whether paid or unpaid, which gives him authority to prevent the sale, knowingly to allow another person to sell alcohol to a person under 18. Previously, under section 169(1), only the licensee could commit this offence. As the offence can only be committed “knowingly”, the new section provides no defence to the offence.
10.New section 169C retains the offence under 169(2) for a person under 18 to buy, or attempt to buy, alcohol in licensed premises. The section also maintains the offence previously contained in section 169(3) of purchasing alcohol for consumption in a bar in licensed premises by a person under 18. A new sub-section also creates a new offence of buying or attempting to buy alcohol on behalf of a person under 18. No offence is committed in this case if the person proves that he had no reason to suspect that the person was under 18. This offence has been referred to in debates in Parliament as the offence of “proxy purchase.” No offence would be committed by a parent who buys alcohol and subsequently gives it to one of his/her children. The new offence catches only those who act as an agent for a child in contracting the purchase.
11.New section 169D maintains the exception provided by section 169(4), where the person under 18 is at least 16 and the sale or purchase is of certain kinds of alcohol for consumption at a meal in certain parts of licensed premises.
12.New section 169E retains the offence under section 169(2) for a person under 18 to consume alcohol in a bar in licensed premises. It also makes it an offence for a person in licensed premises, if he works in the licensed premises in a capacity, whether paid or unpaid, which gives him authority to prevent the consumption, knowingly to allow a person under 18 to consume alcohol in a bar. Previously, under section 169(1), only the licensee or his “servant” could commit the latter offence. The new section provides no defence to the offence.
13.New section 169F makes it an offence for a person who works in licensed premises, whether paid or unpaid, knowingly to deliver alcohol to a person under 18 where the alcohol is sold in the licensed premises for off-premise consumption. It is also an offence for a person, who works in the licensed premises in a capacity, whether paid or unpaid, which gives him authority to prevent the delivery, knowingly to allow such a delivery by any person. Previously, under section 169(5), only the licensee or his “servant” could commit the “delivery” offence and only the licensee could commit the “allowing delivery” offence. Section 169(7) previously provided an exception where the person under 18 is a member of the licensee’s family or his servant or apprentice and is employed as a messenger to deliver alcohol; this exception is extended by the Act to cover anyone under 18 working in the licensed premises in a capacity, whether paid or unpaid, which includes the delivery of alcohol.
14.New section 169G maintains the offence of knowingly sending a person under 18 to obtain alcohol sold or to be sold in licensed premises for off-premise consumption (section 169(6)). The exception for messenger boys contained in section 169(7) has also been extended as in new section 169F.
15.New section 169H applies the penalties for an offence under section 169 to the new offences under sections 169A to 169G. The maximum fine is level 3 on the standard scale (currently £1,000). The power to forfeit licences formerly contained in section 169(8) has been adapted to apply to the offences under the new sections. Convictions for offences under section 169, as well as convictions for offences under the new sections, will count for the purposes of triggering the power to forfeit.
16.Section 2 makes consequential amendments, adapting references to the existing offences, defences and penalty provisions so as to reflect the new ones.
Commentary on Sections