…this ancient law which is still in force today could see you in court if you take the reins whilst tipsy.
Section 12 of the Licensing Act 1872 provides that:-
“Every person who is drunk while in charge on any highway or other public place of any carriage, horse, cattle, or steam engine or who is drunk when in possession of any loaded firearms shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding forty shillings, or in the discretion of the court to imprisonment for any term not exceeding one month”
According to information released by the Crown Prosecution Service, as recently as 2014, there were 561 prosecutions commenced for a breach of the relevant section, albeit that it is not clear how many of those related to defendants being in charge of a horse at the relevant time.
