Legal hiccup

LIKE TA Davidson ("Holy incorrect", Letters, March 27) I am irritated by inaccurate language use. "Under-age drinking", for instance, presumes an age when alcohol consumption itself becomes legal, yet no such qualification exists.

The law bars anyone under 18 from buying or being sold alcohol, but says nothing about their actually drinking it, while at 16 anyone can buy beer, wine or cider to accompany a restaurant meal. In Scotland the lowest age for simply giving alcohol to anyone is five years, and even in that case the actual drinking at a younger age would not be illegal.

The offence referred to as under-age drinking is more accurately that of consuming alcohol in a public place, which applies to all ages where the legislation operates.

ROBERT DOW

Ormiston Road

Tranent, East Lothian