Lesson video

Hi there, I'm Ms. Kumar, and I'm really pleased that you've chosen to learn with me today.

Today's lesson is Alcohol and the Law, and it's part of our unit Risky Substances: What Do I Need to Know About Alcohol? Some parts of today's lesson might feel upsetting or uncomfortable.

We recommend that you are accompanied by an adult.

If at any point you do find something uncomfortable or upsetting, please stop the video and speak to a trusted adult.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can explain why people might choose to drink alcohol, the associated risks with alcohol, and the law surrounding it.

Before we begin any of our learning, let's just remind ourselves of those all-important ground rules.

Laura reminds us to listen to others.

It is okay to disagree with each other, but we need to make sure that we listen properly before we make any assumptions, or before we decide how to respond.

And if we do disagree, make sure that we challenge the statement and not the person themselves, and it reminds us to respect one another's privacy.

We can discuss examples during the lesson, but try not to use any names, descriptions, or any other detail that could give away the identity of anyone that we're talking about, and that includes ourselves.

Jacob reminds us no judgement.

We can explore beliefs and misunderstandings about a topic, but we shouldn't make anyone feel judged.

And finally, Izzy reminds us that it's okay for us to choose our own level of participation.

Everyone has the right to decide whether or not they answer a question or join in a discussion.

Nobody should be made to feel put on the spot.

Throughout the lesson today, you'll notice that there are some words highlighted in bold, black font.

These are keywords.

Before we begin any of our learning, let's take a quick look at today's keywords and their definitions.

Legal age.

Legal age is the minimum age at which a person is allowed to do something by law, such as consuming alcohol.

Alcohol.

Alcohol is a substance containing ethanol, which can impair judgement and coordination.

Underage drinking.

Underage drinking is the consumption of alcohol by someone who is below the legal drinking age.

Offence.

An offence is a breach of a law or rule, or in other words, an illegal act.

And finally, criminal record.

A criminal record is a list of a person's previous criminal convictions.

Today's lesson is split into three parts.

Let's start with part one, what is the law around alcohol in the UK? Lots of things in UK society have legal age limits.

That means that by law, to do certain things, you have to be a certain age or above.

For example, films have age ratings, which range from universal to 18.

A universal film can be watched by anyone, whereas an 18, you obviously have to be 18 years or above.

In the UK, you can drive a car once you are 17 years old.

Many social media sites state that you have to be 13 years or above in order to open an account.

In the UK, you can legally own a home at the age of 18 years or above.

You can also legally smoke or vape above the age of 18 years.

Alex asks, "Why do you think we have these age restrictions?" Feel free to pause the video, have a little think, and when you're ready to move on, press play.

How did you get on? Well, to put it simply, legal age limits exist in order to protect young people.

These age limits are based on a young person's capability, or in other words, ability, to be able to make informed decisions.

Some films, substances, and activities are not appropriate, or in other words, they are not suitable for young people.

That's why the government enforces age restrictions.

In the UK, the legal age of majority is 18 years old.

The legal age of majority is the age you are legally considered an adult.

That's why the legal age for alcohol consumption in the UK is 18.

Time for our first check for understanding.

The legal age to consume alcohol in the UK is 17 years old, 18 years old, or 21 years old? Feel free to pause the video, have a little think, and when you're ready to move on, press play.

How did you get on? The answer is 18.

Well done if you got that right.

At the age of 18 years old, a person is legally entitled to consume and purchase alcohol.

In other words, in the UK, at the age of 18 years old or above, it is legal, and by law, a person can buy and drink alcohol.

The reason why the age limit is set to 18 years and above is because of the risks that are associated with alcohol, some of which include the following.

Alcohol is linked to an increase in violence.

If alcohol is not consumed responsibly, it can cause alcohol poisoning.

Alcohol can also cause impairment in sensible decision-making.

Alcohol can cause damage to the liver and brain.

There are lots of different reasons why people might choose to drink alcohol despite some of the risks.

Some people only drink alcohol socially.

For example, when they're spending time with their friends.

Some people might only choose to drink alcohol on special occasions.

For example, if they're celebrating a birthday or someone's wedding.

Some people might choose to drink alcohol when they're feeling sad or down.

Alcohol affects the part of the brain that controls inhibition.

Inhibition is the feeling of self-consciousness or self-awareness.

And if somebody is inhibited, it means that they might feel unable to relax or act naturally.

For some people, alcohol might make them feel more relaxed and self-confident.

However, it's important to remember that alcohol does not affect everyone in the same way.

Some people after drinking alcohol might feel more aggressive or even emotional.

Alcohol can also make a person feel unwell, particularly if it's consumed in large quantities.

For some people, alcohol is a completely social practise, and they only drink with friends or family, or when it's an important celebration.

For other people, they may feel that they are dependent on alcohol.

That means that they crave an alcoholic drink, and when they do drink, they struggle to control the amount that they drink.

Alcohol dependency is a disease, and if somebody is suffering with alcohol dependency, it's really important that they seek medical support and guidance.

Some people, on the other hand, may choose not to drink alcohol at all, and there's lots of different reasons why this might be the case.

Some people don't enjoy the taste, or the feeling that they get when they drink alcohol.

Some people may choose not to drink alcohol for religious reasons.

People may not drink alcohol if they are sober.

That means that they might have drunk alcohol previously, but have chosen to stop for personal reasons.

People may choose to not drink alcohol because they want to avoid the health risks.

And finally, people may choose not to drink alcohol if they are on certain medications, for example, antidepressants or antibiotics.

Here's another check for understanding.

True or false? Consuming alcohol always makes people feel good.

Feel free to pause the video, have a little think, and then press play when you're ready to move on.

How did you get on? The answer is false.

Have a think about why.

Alcohol can make people more aggressive, sad, or emotional, and too much alcohol can have a negative impact on health.

Well done if you got those answers right.

That brings us to Task A.

Label the image of alcohol with facts about the following: the law around alcohol in the UK, why some people choose to drink alcohol, why some people choose not to drink alcohol, and how alcohol affects people.

One has been done for you.

It says here some people choose not to drink alcohol to avoid health risks.

Feel free to pause the video, carry out the task, and when you're ready to look at some possible answers together, press play.

How did you get on? Let's take a look at some possible answers together now.

These are some of the things that you could have written down.

Some people drink alcohol socially or when they are celebrating.

The legal age for alcohol consumption is 18 years old to protect young people from the risks associated with it.

Some people can develop a dependency on alcohol.

And finally, alcohol impacts a person's inhibition, and can make them feel unwell.

Well done if you got something along those lines.

That brings us to part two of our lesson, what are the consequences of underage drinking? Underage drinking is the term that we use to describe when people under the age of 18 years old consume, or in other words, drink alcohol.

It is an offence for a person under the age of 18 to purchase, or in other words, buy alcohol anywhere.

It's also an offence for someone under the age of 18 to drink alcohol at licenced premises, that means a pub, a bar, a restaurant, or a club, without being accompanied by an adult.

If an establishment or an individual is caught selling alcohol to someone who is underage twice in a three-month period, they may face lots of different consequences, including a fine of up to 10,000 pounds, temporary closure of their establishment or business, and even the taking away of their licence to sell alcohol.

It is illegal for someone under the age of 18 to ask an adult to purchase alcohol on their behalf.

It's also illegal to buy alcohol on behalf of someone under the age of 18.

This is known as a proxy purchase.

Under 18s who are caught drinking alcohol in public can face lots of consequences.

They could be stopped by police.

The alcohol could be confiscated.

That means taken away.

They could be fined.

They could even be arrested.

If this is the third offence, so this is the third time they have broken these rules, police can ask people to sign a social contract.

A social contract is a set of standards and conditions that the young person must follow for up to six months.

Breaching this social contract or breaking this social contract could lead to even stricter consequences.

Time for another check for understanding.

True or false? Only adults can face consequences for breaking laws around alcohol.

Feel free to pause the video, have a little think, and then press play when you're ready to move on.

How did you get on? The answer is false.

Have a think about why.

Underage drinking is an offence in the UK, and if a young person is caught, they can be fined or even arrested.

Well done if your answers were along those lines.

The UK has laws that restrict, or in other words, prevent under 18s from being in places where alcohol is sold or consumed.

Sofia asks, "Why do you think the UK has laws like this?" Feel free to pause the video, have a little think, and then press play when you're ready to move on.

How did you get on? Let's take a look at the answer on the next slide.

The reason that the government has these restrictions in place is to try and reduce the likelihood of underage drinking.

For example, many pubs and bars will allow people under the age of 18 while they are accompanied by an adult until 9:00 pm.

However, after 9:00 pm, most pubs and bars will stop serving food, but will continue to serve alcohol, which is why under 18s are not usually allowed to stay in establishments after this time.

An adult caught supplying or selling alcohol to anyone under the age of 18 years old can face a fine of up to 10,000 pounds.

If the adult selling the alcohol to a person under 18 owns a bar, a pub, or a restaurant, they may face a fine or even have their premises closed down.

In other words, they could lose their business.

This is why when purchasing or buying alcohol, people are asked to supply identification to prove their age.

Here's an example of what identification might look like.

This is a provisional driver's licence.

On the licence, you can see the person's name, you can also see their date of birth, so from this information, you can see if the person is legally old enough to buy and consume alcohol.

Some young people may try to use a fake ID or identification to purchase alcohol.

Using a fake ID or borrowing another person's ID is an offence under the Fraud Act of 2006.

If caught, the maximum consequences for using fake ID to either buy alcohol or gain access into licenced premises include a fine of 5,000 pounds and up to 10 years imprisonment.

Lucas tells us, "To reduce the number of fake IDs, "the government introduced the challenge 25 scheme "where anyone who looks under the age of 25 is asked "to show ID when they are buying alcohol." Time for another check for understanding.

What is the maximum consequence for using a fake ID? Is it A, a fine of 10,000 pounds and five years imprisonment? Is it B, a fine of 5,000 pounds and 10 years imprisonment? Or is it C, a fine of 500 pounds and five years imprisonment? Feel free to pause the video, have a little think, and then press play when you're ready to move on.

How did you get on? The answer is B, a fine of 5,000 pounds and 10 years imprisonment.

Well done if you got that right.

That takes us to the second task for today's lesson, Task B.

Jay is 14, and has bought a fake ID, and wants to use it to buy alcohol.

Explain to Jay what the consequences would be for using a fake ID, purchasing alcohol underage, and underage drinking.

Feel free to pause the video while you carry out this task, and then when you're ready to look at some possible answers together, press play.

How did you get on? Let's take a look at some answers together.

You might have said the following.

Using a fake ID is an offence punishable by a maximum fine of 5,000 pounds and 10 years imprisonment.

Purchasing alcohol underage can result in the premises selling the alcohol being fined or shut down.

And finally, underage drinking can result in a fine, arrest, or a social contract if it is a repeat offence.

Well done if your answers were along these lines.

That brings us to the third and final part of today's lesson, what is the impact of alcohol-related offences? There are several alcohol-related offences.

Each of them can have a significant, that means a big impact, on a person's life.

A young person caught underage drinking or using a fake ID can be given a criminal record.

Alex reminds us, "A criminal record is a record of offences "that you have admitted to or have been found guilty of." You can gain a criminal record for the following alcohol-related offences.

Being drunk and disorderly in public.

Disorderly means causing trouble.

Using a fake ID to purchase alcohol or to enter licenced premises.

Driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, or just underage drinking.

Underage drinking can stay on your criminal record for a minimum of five years.

Having a criminal record can have a negative impact on several areas of a person's life.

For example, visa applications to visit or stay in other countries can be turned down if you have a criminal record.

Job applications in the UK and in other countries could be rejected if you have a criminal record.

Applications for some educational opportunities could be trickier if you have a criminal record.

Holding a driver's licence can also be tricky if you have a criminal record, and this is not a complete list of what a criminal record can impact.

Time for another check for understanding.

Is what Jun is saying true or false? Underage drinking cannot impact your future.

Feel free to pause the video, have a little think, and then press play when you're ready to move on.

How did you get on? The answer is, of course, false.

Have a think about why.

Underage drinking is an offence that can give you a criminal record, which can remain with you for a minimum of five years.

Well done if you got that right.

When travelling to different countries around the world, many countries nowadays will ask you to apply for a visa before you visit.

A visa is a special document that gives you permission to enter a country.

Each visa application will have different checks, depending on the country that you're applying to visit.

Most of them, however, will ask you to disclose or tell them if you have a criminal record.

Depending on the severity, that means how serious the crimes are, and depending on the number of times that the offence has been committed, visa applications could be turned down.

Without a visa, you cannot enter certain countries.

Employers will also often ask you to disclose or tell them if you have a criminal record.

Some employers will overlook a criminal record, but again, depending on the number of offences and how serious the offences are, it could impact your chances of finding employment, or in other words, getting a job.

Imprisonment is a potential consequence of using a fake ID, and of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Many people who go to prison may struggle to find employment once they're released.

Sam explains to us, "According to a government report, "only 30% of people find employment within six months "of leaving prison." It can be difficult to get employment abroad if you have a criminal record.

The USA in particular can be harsh when considering whether to hire individuals with criminal records.

Drink driving or any offence that a person has been imprisoned for could result in an automatic dismissal for a travel or work visa to the USA.

Criminal records could make taking part in educational programmes difficult, depending on the nature of the programme and the nature of the offence.

Accessing childcare or social work programmes in particular could also be impacted by criminal records.

Drink driving is a serious offence, and can result in serious consequences.

If a person is found guilty of this offence, they could face a fine of up to 2,500 pounds, imprisonment, being banned from driving.

This crime also impacts others, as it puts the lives and safety of other people at risk.

Time for our last check for understanding.

Izzy and Alex are talking about the impact of a criminal record for alcohol-related offences.

Who is correct? Izzy says, "A criminal record can only impact you "when you are applying for jobs." Alex says, "A criminal record can impact your prospects "for travel, work, and education." Feel free to pause the video, have a little think, and then press play when you're ready to move on.

How did you get on? The answer is Alex is correct.

Have a think about why.

Having a criminal record for alcohol-related offences can prevent travel and work in other countries, getting into educational programmes, and may prevent a person from having a driving licence.

Well done if your answers were along those lines.

It's time for our final task of today's lesson, Task C.

Fill in the table with the impact that alcohol-related offences can have on different areas of a person's life.

In the left-hand column of the table, you have area, and on the right-hand, you have the impact.

The areas that you need to look at include travel, employment in the UK and abroad, education, and driving.

Feel free to pause the video, carry out the task, and when you're ready to look at some answers together, press play.

How did you get on? Let's take a look at some possible answers together now.

Your completed table of the impact of alcohol-related offences may look like this.

For travel, you may not be able to get a visa to travel to other countries.

For employment in the UK and abroad, employers check criminal records, and serious offences can make it difficult to find employment.

Countries like the USA carry out checks on criminal records.

For serious offences, you may face automatic dismissal of a visa application.

Education, certain educational programmes, like childcare programmes, will not allow people with a criminal record.

And finally, for driving, drink driving may result in a driving ban.

Well done if your answers were along those lines.

That brings us to the end of our lesson.

Let's take a quick look at today's lesson summary.

There are different attitudes towards alcohol, and people may choose to drink or not drink it for a variety of reasons.

The legal age to drink alcohol in the UK is 18.

Drinking alcohol under the age of 18 is an offence, and is known as underage drinking.

There are several laws around alcohol in the UK, and they come with serious consequences, which can impact a person's life.

For example, they may face barriers to employment, educational programmes, and travel.

Well done on all your hard work in today's lesson.

I hope that you have learned something, and I look forward to seeing you again soon.

If you've been affected by anything that you've learned today, please do speak to a trusted adult.

You can also find more support online with these organisations.

NHS Live Well, here you'll find NHS advice about healthy living, exercise, quitting smoking, and drinking less alcohol.

SafeCall, this is a service for young people and family members affected by missing people, county lines, and criminal exploitation.

And finally, Childline.

This is a website and phone line, which is able to offer confidential advice and support.