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xDrug Info: The Law About Drugs
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A first offender who is caught in possession of a controlled (illegal) drug, and admits that he/she has committed a criminal offence, may receive a reprimand from the police or a warning. If a person between the age of 10 and 17 has received a warning and commits further criminal offences, they could be charged by the police and dealt with by a youth court. This court can fine parents or put the offender in a Young Offenders Institution (but not prison).
Keeping drugs for another person and handling them back could result in a charge of unlawful supply. On premises you are responsible for (i.e. you occupy or are concerned in the management of) it is an offence to knowingly allow anyone to produce, give away or sell drugs and even to offer the drug free of charge. So if a parent knows that their child is sharing illegal drugs in their home and does nothing to stop it, the parent may have committed an offence. Knowingly allowing the smoking of cannabis in you home is also an offence. If you take illegal drugs from someone to prevent them from committing an offence, you must either destroy them or take the drugs to the police as soon as possible.
The Misuse of Drugs Act divides illegal drugs into three classes and provides for maximum penalties as follows.
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| Class of Drug |
Drug Type |
Maximum Penalties |
| Class A |
AMPHETAMINES (SPEED) if prepared for injection
COCAINE and CRACK
ECSTASY (and drugs similar to Ecstasy)
HEROIN, LSD (ACID)
MAGIC MUSHROOMS (If prepared for use)
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Possession: 7 years’ prison and/or a fine
Possession with intent to supply, or supply: Life imprisonment and/or a fine
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| Class B |
AMPHETAMINES (SPEED) |
Possession: 5 years’ prison and/or a fine
Possession with intent to supply, or supply: 14 years’ prison and/or a fine
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| Class C |
ANABOLIC STEROIDS
BENZODIAZEPINES (e.g.temazepam, flunitrazepam, valium)
CANNABIS |
Possession: 2 years’ prison and/or a fine
Possession with intent to supply, or supply: 14 years’ prison and/or a fine
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Drug Info: The Law About Alcohol
The law regarding alcohol for
England,
Scotland
and
Wales
is summarised in the table below and varies according to the age of your child. In
Scotland
a person shall not knowingly act as an agent for a person under 18 in the purchase of alcohol liquor. In
Britain
some towns and cities have local by-laws banning the drinking of alcohol in public (on public transport for example).
| AGE |
THE LAW |
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Under 5
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It is illegal to give an alcoholic drink to a child under 5 except in certain circumstances e.g. under medical supervision.
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Under 14
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A young person under 14 cannot go into the bar of a pub unless he pub has a ‘children’s certificate’. If it does not have one, they can only go into parts of licensed premises where alcohol is EITHER sold but not DRUNK (e.g. an off-licence or a sales point away from the pub), OR drunk but not sold (e.g. a garden or family room).
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14 or 15
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14 or 15 year olds can go anywhere in a pub, but cannot drink alcohol.
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16 or 17
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16 and 17 year olds can buy (or be bought) beer or cider as an accompaniment to a meal, but not in a bar (i.e. only in an area specifically set aside for meals).
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| Under 18 |
Except for 16 or 17 year olds having a meal in a pub (see above), it is against the law for anyone under 18 to buy alcohol in a pub, off-licence, supermarket or other outlet; or for anyone else to buy alcohol in a pub for someone who is under 18.
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