PUBGOERS have been warned there is one sneaky rule that could set you back £200, and get you kicked out of your local this Christmas.
The 150-year-old rule is rarely enforced but is a bizarre law that still stands today.
Drinking too much alcohol in any public house is actually a fineable offence.
It turns out that if you are drunk in a boozer, you could be slapped with a £200 punishment.
With mulled wine, eggnog, bucks fizz, and Bailey’s hot chocolate all flowing over the festive season, it’s hard to keep clear of the booze.
But you can actually get a Fixed Penalty Notice if you’re unlucky.
Section 12 of the Licensing Act 1872 reads: “Every person found drunk on any licensed premises, shall be liable to a penalty.”
However, it’s safe to say the outdated law actually is in place to discourage disorderly behaviour, rather than drunkeness.
If a pubgoer is getting aggressive, rude or can no longer control themself the police might get involved.
It was put in place to promote moderate drinking but this is quite hard to quantify.
The peculiar rule doesn’t just affect merry punters in pubs though.
It affects venues and any other public space, so make sure to pace yourself this Christmas.
It’s also good to keep in mind that drinking booze on public transport is often illegal, so hold on to your canned cocktails until you arrive at your destination.
Transport for London services including buses, trams, DLR and the underground prohibits the consumption of alcohol
The Licensing Act 2003 states that the bartender serving alcohol to somebody who is intoxicated will also be hit with a fine.
Landlords and hospitality staff could find themselves with a Fixed Penalty Notice of £90 issued by the cops.
If the penalty ends up going to court it could even be increased to a £1,000.
Thankfully these fines are rarely issued.
However, if you get into your car while above the legal limit, you will likely get into serious trouble.
Being in charge of a vehicle while over the legal limit can land you with three months in prison, a £2,500 fine or a driving ban.
Driving while drunk can result in six months imprisonment, an unlimited fine, and a ban from driving for up to 10 years.
Ever wondered why some people seem to breeze through the morning after a big night out while others feel like they’ve been hit by a train?
It turns out the science of hangovers is as complex as it is painful.
“Variability in the experience of hangovers is something we see in research,” says Sam Royle, from the University of Salford and a member of the Alcohol Hangover Research Group, told Sun Health.
“Around five per cent of people report what we call hangover-resistance – they can drink amounts that would typically lead to a hangover but claim they don’t experience one.”
However, even in these cases, markers of immune response still spike, meaning their bodies are reacting, even if they don’t feel the effects.
For the rest of us mere mortals, the severity of a hangover can come down to three main factors: genetics, drinking habits, and psychology.
1. Genetics play a role
“Some people have reduced expression of a gene that produces aldehyde dehydrogenase, a key enzyme in alcohol metabolism,” explains Sam.
This can lead to the infamous “flushing” reaction – when someone turns red after a drink – and it’s often accompanied by more severe hangovers.
In fact, studies suggest genetics account for 24 per cent of hangover variability in men and 16 per cent in women.
2. What you drink matters
The type of alcohol you consume also plays a part, the expert said.
Drinks with higher levels of congeners – chemical byproducts of fermentation found in dark spirits like whiskey and red wine- tend to cause worse hangovers.
And then there’s the obvious: how much you drink, how quickly, and whether you’ve eaten beforehand.
3. Your mindset matters more than you’d think
Personality traits and pain tolerance can even influence hangover severity.
“People who focus negatively on pain tend to report worse hangovers,” says Royal.
Interestingly, how drunk you feel while drinking is one of the strongest predictors of next-day misery—factors like stress, tiredness, and how fast you’re drinking can all amplify that sensation.
While science hasn’t cracked the code of why some people suffer more than others, researchers are investigating these patterns to uncover potential links between hangover severity and health risks, such as addiction.
For now, the best defence is moderation—and maybe a good breakfast before heading to the pub!
