Originally Posted by
corporate-wage-slave
In the UK it has long been a criminal offence if someone "sells or attempts to sell alcohol to a person who is drunk", or "allows alcohol to be sold to such a person". It's also a criminal offence for someone to buy drink for a friend if they are drunk too, which is rather less well known. It attracts a fine on a scale up to £1,000, and would seriously endanger a licensee's renewal. Now this is not ruthlessly enforced (particularly the buying for a friend bit), but even on the Bigg Market on a Friday night every pub there will deny drinks to at least some customers. "Drunk" in this case uses a commonsense definition, the landlord doesn't need to administer breath tests.
Thanks, that's rather interesting, although the fines seem pretty small. It can be up to about £35,000 equivalent for the licencee or manager (individuals) here (Australia) and around £7,000 equivalent for the server here, depending on the circumstance. On-the spot fines are also issued, and licence suspension after two counts of supplying alcohol to an intoxicated person or a minor in at least some states.
I think it tends to be enforced a bit more strictly than it is in the UK and also with mandatory training etc. (you need a certificate before you can serve alcohol).
I've no idea how it would function in situations like BA GF/GC where alcohol is free-pour though!