Transcript Drugs and the Law

Drugs and the Law
Young people and the legal
drinking age
• A young person between the ages of 14 and 18 is
allowed to drink alcohol at home.
• A young person under 18 can only be in a bar or club
selling alcohol if accompanied by an adult, AND the bar
or club has a Children's Certificate displayed, showing
that they have been given permission to have children
present until 9pm.
• A 16 year old can work, or receive training, in a bar or
club (holding a Children’s Certificate) if they have a
written contract of employment.
Under age drinking and
behaviour
• It is against the law for someone under 18 to pretend to be
18 and drink alcohol.
• It is an offence to sell alcohol to someone under 18.
Punishment - a fine, imprisonment up to 6 months, or
both.
• Police can confiscate alcohol from people under 18 and
take their name and address. They can arrest someone
who will not cooperate.
• It is illegal to behave in a disruptive way (‘disorderly
behaviour’) anywhere.
• It is illegal to sell alcohol to someone who is obviously
drunk or showing disorderly behaviour.
Alcohol and driving
• Police can arrest anyone that they suspect may have their
ability to drive impaired through drink or drugs, by using
observations or roadside breath tests. This also applies to
cyclists.
• Punishment for driving under the influence can involve
your driving licence being removed for a period of time.
• Road accidents are one of the biggest causes of death
and injury.
Classes of drugs
CLASS A
CLASS B
CLASS C
These drugs are
considered the most
harmful
A class B drug in
injectable form is
treated as a class A
drug.
These are considered
less harmful
Ecstasy, LSD, heroin,
cocaine, crack, magic
mushrooms,
amphetamines (if
prepared for injection).
Amphetamines,
Methylphenidate
(Ritalin), Pholcodine.
Cannabis, tranquilisers,
some painkillers,
Gamma
hydroxybutyrate (GHB),
Ketamine.
Maximum penalties for drugs
Class Possession
Dealing
A
Up to seven years in
prison or an unlimited
fine or both.
Up to life in prison or an
unlimited fine or both.
B
Up to five years in prison Up to 14 years in prison or an
or an unlimited fine or
unlimited fine or both.
both.
C
Up to two years in prison Up to 14 years in prison or an
or an unlimited fine or
unlimited fine or both.
both.
Cannabis
•
•
•
•
Cannabis is illegal for any individual to have, give away or sell.
The police can arrest anyone found in possession of cannabis.
You may be given an ‘informed warning’ or go to court.
Possession of cannabis can result in two years in jail and/or an
unlimited fine.
• Supplying or selling cannabis can result in 14 years in jail and/or
an unlimited fine.
Summary of drug-related offences
Supplying
Buying or
possessing
Being intoxicated
Those who are responsible for
premises who know but take no
action to prevent
USE
SUPPLY
Knowing a
person is in
possession or
dealing and not
telling
Solvents
Illegal under
18
No offence
Considered a
breach of the
peace in a public
place. Illegal to
drive
No offence
No offence
No offence
Benzodiazepines,
Tranquillisers
Illegal
No offence
No offence. Illegal
to drive
No offence
Illegal
No offence if in
possession.
Illegal if dealing
Magic
Mushrooms
No offence
Unless
prepared (eg
cooked)
No offence
unless
prepared
No offence
Illegal to drive
No offence
No offence
unless prepared
No offence
unless prepared
Heroin, cocaine,
crack, LSD,
amphetamines,
ecstasy
Illegal
Illegal
No offence
Illegal to drive
No offence
Illegal
Illegal
Cannabis
Illegal
Illegal
No offence
Illegal to drive
Illegal
Illegal
Illegal