British Laws you may not know about

Sunday, 17 July 2022 23:12

Britain has some pretty strange laws and it’s possible you might have broken one or two of them without realizing it. They include singing Happy Birthday in public and sticking a stamp on an envelope incorrectly.

Here are some of the unusual laws that you may not know about:

Being drunk on licensed premises. It’s an offence to be drunk in a pub. The law is listed in the 1872 Licensing Act, which says if a person is found to be drunk on licensed premises they could be fined £200. The law has also states that it’s illegal for bar staff to serve someone who is drunk.

Paying with a phone at a drive-through with the car running. The law about using a phone while driving has got a lot tighter. It includes making it an offence to pay at a drive-through using a phone while the car engine is running. If caught, you could face a fine of £200 and six points on your licence.

Putting a stamp on an envelope upside down. If you’re sending a letter you need to be careful when adding a stamp. Under British law, if you post a letter with the stamp upside down it’s considered treason, and as a result, you could face serious consequences.

Singing happy birthday in public. No birthday is complete without Happy Birthday being sung but did you know that it's illegal to sing Happy Birthday in public without the permission of the song’s owners? The song is held under copyright, meaning any public performance of it, is actually breaking the law.