legal age to buy a kit???

[bog69]

a question that had never even crossed my mind until i tried to get my stepson to get me a kit 4 xmas
What is the legal age for buying a beer kit from a shop??????

[emyrjones88]

I’m not a lawyer or have any understanding of the law but wot I believe its true that it its not beer till the yeast is added or fermentation starts, so I wouldn’t think that there is a legal age limit to buy a kit. I’m shore somebody “in the know” will be along shortly.

[mysterio]

That was my understanding too, you can probably buy it at any age. You're just buying malt extract and yeast after all. Making it at home, I suspect you might be allowed to brew and drink it with parental consent. I think it's selling it in shops/pubs to minors which is the crime.

[ColinKeb]

I'd go with that although a responsible shop owner might refuse to sell to a kid, you could warn him that if this happens he just needs to explain that its a present getting the owner to ring you or his parents to make sure if he wants.

[bog69]

cheers. if anybody asks what i want 4 xmas all i say is beer kits. knowing my luck i'll end up with loads of the cheapest kits in the shop. probably all the same

[emyrjones88]

Funny that just got id for a wherry in Wilkinson’s lol didn’t bother explaining that it wasn’t alcohol, luckily I had my id on me.

[RatboyOllie]

Hello,

because a kit contains everything needed to make alcohol the legal age is the same as if you buying a crate of lager at the supermarket im afraid.

18

bit daft in a way but thems the rules

[sparky Paul]

because a kit contains everything needed to make alcohol the legal age is the same as if you buying a crate of lager at the supermarket im afraid.

That genuinely surprises me, I always understood that there was no legal restriction to buying homebrew supplies, although I can imagine that some retailers might impose their own policy.

Have you got a link info to this anywhere?

[TC2642]

Hello,

because a kit contains everything needed to make alcohol the legal age is the same as if you buying a crate of lager at the supermarket im afraid.

18

bit daft in a way but thems the rules

What if it was a carton of apple juice, sugar and a pack of bread yeast? That has the same potential.

[RatboyOllie]

Hiya,

ive just scoured the net actually and cant find it anywhere and i cant remember where i read it, but i definitely did. Im not for a second saying im 100% right but as soon as the question was asked i "thought" i knew the answer. Funnily enough i also just unpacked my Heron bay wine kit and on the top of the box it clearly states "contains kit to make alcoholic wine - not to be sold to minors", so i guess i may have read it on a old wine box and my brain has confused me......

Also on the hambletonbard website it states....

To Order
Hambleton Bard Wine Making Kits are available from most homebrew shops. Contact us for your nearest stockist.

Brewing Wine from kits is simple and inexpensive! Start homebrewing now!

(Please note that you must be of legal drinking age to purchase these products.)

Sorry chaps, not a clue where i got this info from, i may well be wrong........... an interesting point though. How is it any different to buying a carton of AJ and some yeast? I'm guessing the manufacturers are putting these things into a complete kit, supplying instructions and therefore it is entirely different to buying the ingredients separately at which point no single manufacturer is suggesting that you combine them with another product to make alcohol and therefore doesn't owe the minor a duty of care.

[RatboyOllie]

ive sent an email to the drinkaware trust

its got me thinking im making things up now........

i will post the response, says it could take 7 days. Maybe a legal bod will come along in the mean time and put us straight?

[sparky Paul]

Manufacturer's like Hambleton Bard have to take in to account that their kits are sold in the US, and I believe it is illegal to sell them to minors in many, if not all, of the states.

ive sent an email to the drinkaware trust

If it isn't illegal, that will be the next thing they'll be lobbying for!

[Operator]

For my sins I am a police officer and I'm not aware of any laws relating to the purchase or sale of homebrew kits. It's not my department nowdays but I'll check on the legal database.

[boingy]

I'm pretty sure it's not illegal in the UK. Those manufacturers are probably just covering their ass.

And let's face it, any self-respecting teenager just hangs around outside the "offy" and asks random people to buy their booze. Why would they bother to brew it?

[Benson_JV]

I brew, and have bought a couple kits from a couple different places...never before have i been asked for ID...yes i may look older than 15...but any shop-owner with at least a brain cell should ID me

As to whether its illegal or not, i dont know, but i'm guessing not