Is it illegal to run up drinks tabs in pubs?!


Question:

Is it illegal to run up drinks tabs in pubs?

Additional Details

4 weeks ago
Not over a night, like you do with food etc, but over days or weeks or whatever....I know it used to be illegal to supply alcohol on credit but not sure if changed with the licensing law in 2003


Answers:
4 weeks ago
Not over a night, like you do with food etc, but over days or weeks or whatever....I know it used to be illegal to supply alcohol on credit but not sure if changed with the licensing law in 2003

I think I found this question was repeated under a different category, which I believe you will have found by now / or soon will. Obviously it was important to you. I'll post this answer in case anyone else is interested. Briefly in England Wales & Scilly Isles, Section 166 Licensing Act 1964 made it an offence to obtain alcohol and consume it in licensed premises if you did not pay at the time. Drinking on credit was unlawful, with some exceptions if you were a guest or having a meal, in which case you could settle all your bar bill at the end of your stay or when you finished the meal. Using a debit / credit card was treated as if you paid in cash. This rule was abolished when the Licensing Act 2003 came into force because there is now no corresponding section or offence. The LA 2003 came into force gradually with a serious of transitional dates and was fully effective from November time 2005.

Source(s):
LLB ( Hons ) Licensing law is my specialist subject.

Only if you can`t or don`t intend to pay it.

Nope because it's your word against theirs unless you have signed something.



Honey*

No it's not illegal. You can get in trouble if you don't pay your tab, but it's not illegal. If it were then they wouldn't offer tabs.

yes

There's city pubs that swipe your credit/debit card . You settle up at the end of your session.

Around here, it's pretty much up to the waiter or waitress. If they don't know you, chances are they'll ask you to pay up. If you're a regular, they'll run a tab. If you do a runner, the wait person gets stuck with your tab. That's pretty lame in my opinion.

dont know if it is illegal but dont think many pubs would let you.

No, of course not.

If the owner wants to extend you credit, and that's what it is, then that's up to them.

If you sit in a restaraunt and have a meal, you have a tab don't you?......you pay for the meal at the end, not each course as it comes.

It's exactly the same thing, just drink instead of food.

You have to pay your bill of course.

if there daft enough to give it you its there own fault if you dont pay

I don't believe it is illegal. I have a tab at our local bar and I charge things on it, two or three times a week. I get food and alcohol on the tab. I pay it off every week on payday. They are a little hard on the wallet though. Last week I had to pay $145.

Illegal? Possibly.

However, the tab is an old established custom and will never really die out as long as the parties know and respect each other. Modern pubs with their computer terminals and bothersome mangers might make a small difference.

did you know that there used to be an Act of Parliament called 'The Prohibition of Payment of Wages in Public Houses Act'

Unscrupulous factory owners used to do a deal with similar minded landlords to let the guys spend up large in the pub. So, later on, no cash ready you went back to work for, you've guessed it, old skinflint!! Nothing changes much does it?

YES---I have been a bartender in the state if IN and it has always been illegal

everybody does it here in Germany

you can pay at the end of the month




The consumer Foods information on foodaq.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
Copyright © 2007 FoodAQ - Terms of Use - Contact us - Privacy Policy

Food's Q&A Resources