Purchasing alcohol in the UK - time restrictions?

[nerraw252]

Hey,

I'll be flying to Bristol from Dublin early Wednesday morning for Glastonbury.

The plan is to buy booze either at Bristol airport or get a taxi to a nearby supermarket. Bringing the booze with us from the UK is a non starter due to flying with ryanair and crazy baggage charges.

The coach from Bristol airport to the site leaves at 10.55am.

My question is, can I buy booze somewhere in Bristol before then? I know in Ireland, you can't purchase alcohol before 10.30am. Similar restrictions in the UK?

Also, anyone know of a place near Bristol airport to stock up?

Many thanks

[joshwarrr]

i think at most supermarkets its as soon as it opens.

its after 11 you have trouble, for 24 hour places i think its 7 in the mornnig they can start selling it again.

you should be fine.

[Kyelo]

Well in Scotland it is 8am-10pm(12pm-6 or 8pm Sunday)I think. Should be similar in England.

Edited May 14, 2009 by BenchBuddah

[TheGreenDropsRule]

yep it's definitely much earlier than 11. i had the same problem last year and the supermarket started selling at 8am when they opened

[Darkshine84]

I work for Tesco and our Alcohol Licence runs from 06:00-00:00, so i'd assume most places will be similar.

[nerraw252]

Thanks guys, much appreciated

[eddie explosion]

In London you can stock up on your booze at any time of the day. Most places round my way are open 24hrs for booze...

Does the rest of the UK really not have any local shops to buy booze through the night?

Surely the licensing laws are the same everywhere!

[Funkfarley]

In London you can stock up on your booze at any time of the day. Most places round my way are open 24hrs for booze...

Does the rest of the UK really not have any local shops to buy booze through the night?

Surely the licensing laws are the same everywhere!

Edited May 14, 2009 by Funkfarley

[Keef]

The past few times we've been to Glasto, we've bought all our booze from the Tesco at the end of the M32 in central(ish) Bristol at around 7am. Before the licensing laws were relaxed we had to time our drive from Norfolk to get us to Bristol just after 8am as that was when they used to start selling.

[bubbsio]

The past few times we've been to Glasto, we've bought all our booze from the Tesco at the end of the M32 in central(ish) Bristol at around 7am. Before the licensing laws were relaxed we had to time our drive from Norfolk to get us to Bristol just after 8am as that was when they used to start selling.

[nerraw252]

Cheers guys.

Will ask a taxi so . I can imagine the drivers reaction when three Irish lads tumble into his cab at 7am looking for booze.

"Excuse me driver, we want the finest wines available to humanity, we want them here, and we want them now."

"Tesco ok?

"yeah."

[Toilet Duck]

You could also buy some in Dublin duty free before you get on the plane...I know it will only be the tax free variety, but we were planning on doing the same thing before we got on the plane...can't put a slab of beer in the hold, but a couple of bottles of vodka in your hand should be ok?....though with Ryanair who bloody knows, you may have to include them in your 1 carry on bag....man I hate those f*ckers, but nobody else flies to Bristol!

Edited May 15, 2009 by Toilet Duck

[joshwarrr]

"Excuse me driver, we want the finest wines available to humanity, we want them here, and we want them now."

"Tesco ok?

"yeah."

[scaryclaireyfairy]

'i demand to have some booze!'

[Kyelo]

'i demand to have some booze!'

[joshwarrr]

He looks like he is after a syringe not a drink

[joshwarrr]

oooooo and

Look at him! Look at Jeff Woad. His head must weight twenty pounds on its own! Imagine the size of his balls... Imagine getting into a fight with the f**ker!

[Freewheelin]

Don't forget the 'no glass on site' rule if you're stocking up on duty free at the airport or hitting an off licence/supermarket for spirits on the way to the site. If they find it on you at the gate it'll be confiscated.

I guess when buying the booze you could also buy a few litres of the cheapest water you can find, dump the water and decant the booze before you get to the gates.

[barnaby cringle]

Don't buy your booze in Ireland, you'll pay double the price. A lot of supermarkets' are licenced to sell booze 24/7, so I'd say that was your best bet. You can get a crate of 18 for about £7 now-a-days in Tesco. With the weakness of the Pound at the moment, it's defintately best to wait until you get to the UK, 99.9% of the time, it'll be even cheaper that the duty-free in Dublin.

Edited May 17, 2009 by barnaby cringle

[nerraw252]

Thanks for the advice.

Definitely not going to be buying booze in Dublin, cost a small fortune compared to UK prices.

[dvjj]

Most places sell booze from 8am legally on weekdays.