Alcohol and Drug Policy of the English Regions

The English Regions has a drinking age between 5 to 7 depending on the department on private property (enforced rarely), yet in public the drinking age is 16 (except spirits:18)- exemption for 16-17 years consuming cocktails served during a meal or with adult over 18 years old, and for those consuming wine or beer over 14 years and older eating a meal or 12 years old with a responsible adult present. There also exists the "beer rule" that means those 12 or older (all departments maximum age permitted, in 24/82 departments it is 11, in 32/82 departments it is 10 and in 7/82 departments it is 9 and in 4/82 departments it is 8 years old), who are in a public park or beach drinking in a light fashion (wine or beer), will not have alcohol confiscated, this is extended to those 10 and above (all departments maximum- In 10/82 departments it is 9 years old and in 32/82 it is 8 years old) with a legal guardian or "responsible adult" present over 18 years old.

Alcohol up to 15.9% alcohol can be purchased by those of 16 and above this by those 18 or older (Principally spirits).All alcohol over the 5% mark can only be sold and purchased in the state-owned "Federal Wine Monopoly" (Special Joint-Stores exist in wineries and breweries). Opening hours are restricted to between 10:00-midnight during the week, and between 10:00-22:30 on Saturdays and on Sundays (since 2020) between 10:00-21:00. On public holidays, the sale of alcohol is restricted to the same time as Sunday. On licenses such as bars and nightclubs have different and more relaxed regulation (Earliest alcohol last order time of any department is 2.30AM- most common last order times are 4 or 5AM with cities in each department having ability to move an hour forward or back and in some cases up to two hours on special occasions or on the weekend- most departments have a yearly permitted quota). Most departments have a daily four hour cool-off period when alcohol may not be served, however 19/82 departments permit 24 hour sales of on-premise alcohol, with a further 23/82 departments permitting cities to enact such policies (An additional 10/82 departments permit it on certain weekends or holidays each year).

Alcohol deliveries are permitted since 2022 (out of hours), but with delivery surcharge of 15% on top of value of purchase.High Taxes exist on alcohol. The alcohol monopoly was introduced in the 1928, following a failed prohibition referendum. Limited alcohol advertisement on television and on other platforms (limitations principally on avoiding younger people from being exposed) have been permitted since 2012.

Tobacco and cannabis products along with ecstasy, LSD (age restriction of 18 years old) and magic mushrooms can be only be sold and purchased to those from 16 years of age and above at the state-owned "National Pharmacy Monopoly". The age of consumption for cannabis and tobacco is 12-13 depending on the department in private (beach and park rule with no guardian condition applies to those over 14 in all departments minimum; 13 in 31/82 departments and 12 in 12/82 departments) with only those 16 and above are able to smoke in public, although medicinal use of cannabis has an age of consumption of 6 (strict regulations exist in terms of prescribed amount and potency). High federal taxes exist on them (departments can levy up to 15% on top). Consumption inside all public institutions has been banned in all states since 2008, with cannabis and tobacco able to still be smoked in certain places such as some bars and cinemas depending on the state (39/82). Sale of legalised drugs are allowed every day between 10:00-midnight, bar public holidays and Sundays after 18:30. Tobacco and cannabis advertisements have similar rules to that of alcohol, although unlike alcohol have never been banned. Meanwhile, advertisements for ecstasy are technically permitted since the drug's legalisation in 2022, however in practice there has been no approval by standards authorities (however in 2023 first TV advertisement is likely to be permitted).

Production of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis is carried out by a mix of state and private licence holders (only alcohol and tobacco is produced mainly by private companies), whilst ecstasy, magic mushrooms and LSD is produced solely by state-owned agencies, with very strict regulations.

Ecstasy and magic mushrooms as already mentioned in 2022 have been legalised federally for those 16 years or older. Ecstasy had been been previously legalised in all departments bar three (in which 75% had a consumption age of 18), where it had been available via mail order, as a result of a supreme court ruling in 2017. LSD had been legalised in 53/82, before its federal legalisation in 2022 for those those over 18, without a mail order loophole.

Cocaine has a similar status to the former model for LSD, yet only (49/82) respectively have legalised it with the purchase age ranging from 17 to 20 years old, with 15 departments legalising it between 2022-3. Since a mail exemption ruling that was taken in April 2023 legalised mail orders for individuals over the age of 18 years old of up to 3.5 grams for personal consumption have been permitted.

Federally, all other drugs (above mentioned drugs in departments where legalisation has not taken place) are decriminalised for possession (limits depend on drug and department) (16-25 years old in possession of a non personal consumption level of "hard" drugs can be sent on educational and health programmes with no criminal prosecution; not heavily enforced), and in some departments other substances are legal .