You might think yourself a perfectly law-abiding citizen, a pillar of the community who would never commit a criminal act - but you could be very wrong.
Because, believe it or not, there’s a bizarre rule that almost all of us break each and every time we go into a pub and have a few scoops.
Most of us think it’s not a real night on the lash unless we end up under the influence, but apparently this isn’t technically legal.
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According to solicitors Britton and Time, the ‘weird’ law in the UK that many people don’t know about stems from the Metropolitan Act of 1839.
On its website, the firm says: “One weird UK law which may come as a big shock to many is the fact you’re not actually allowed to be drunk in a pub.”
Whoops.
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"According to the Metropolitan Act of 1839, it’s against the law for the 'keeper of a public house to permit drunkenness on-premises',” the site continues.
“Under the Licensing Act 2003, it’s also illegal to serve alcoholic beverages to patrons who are already intoxicated or purchase alcohol on behalf of someone who is already drunk.
“So, if you leave the house and drink over three to four pints, you might be facing a £200 fine.”
And that’s not the only bizarre law that people in the UK break daily.
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The team at Britton and Time say it’s also illegal to knock on someone’s front door and run away - a favourite game from many people's childhoods - all thanks to the Metropolitan Police Act 1839.
If caught, you are deemed ‘wilfully and wantonly disturbing any inhabitant without a lawful excuse’, meaning you could face a maximum penalty of £500.
Then there’s paying at a drive-through with your phone while the car engine in still running, a law that dates back to the mobile phone laws from 2003, that state it’s illegal to touch a phone or handset while driving.
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“Pulling up to the window at your local McDonald’s and paying with your smartphone with the engine on can get you slapped with a £200 fine and six penalty points if spotted by police,” Britton and Time said.
“In circumstances where your driving is particularly careless at a drive-through as a result of using your phone, you may have a court case and £1,000 fine on your hands.
“Furthermore, if you only recently passed your practical driving test in the past two years, you face a ban from driving.”
Others include jumping the queue at a tube station, sounding your horn through anger, putting a stamp on upside down and, better still, handling a salmon and ‘looking at all suspicious’.
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Turns out I’m quite the lawbreaker.
Topics: UK News, Crime, Food And Drink
Claire Reid