How We Research, Write and Check Our Guides
Our readers make real decisions based on what we publish. This page explains the standards we follow so you can judge our content for yourself.
Last updated:
Four rules behind every article
Where our information comes from
We rank sources by how close they are to the original facts.
| Source type | Examples | How we use it |
|---|---|---|
| Legislation | US state codes, federal statutes, UK Acts of Parliament | Our main source for offences and penalties |
| Government | GOV.UK, the US Department of Justice, Customs and Border Protection, state agencies | Official guidance, enforcement news and statistics |
| Courts and prosecutors | Crown Prosecution Service guidance, court records, published plea agreements | How the law is applied in real cases |
| Research | Peer-reviewed journals and university studies | Evidence on behaviour, health and long-term effects |
| Reputable news | Established national and local outlets | Only to support, never replace, the sources above |
We do not use seller websites, forums or anonymous social media posts as evidence.
From research to publication
Research
We start with the questions young people actually search for, then find the laws and evidence that answer them.
Verify
Every fine, sentence and date is checked against the original law or official page, not a summary.
Write clearly
We use short sentences and plain words, and we explain any legal term the first time it appears.
Cite
Key claims link to their source, and longer guides include a full reference list.
Review
A final check confirms the facts, links and dates before anything goes live.
Update
We revisit our main guides regularly and whenever a relevant law changes.
How we use AI tools
We may use software tools, including AI, to help with research and drafting. These tools never have the final say.
- A person checks every fact against its original source before publishing.
- We remove any claim we cannot verify.
- We take full responsibility for everything on this site.
When we get something wrong
Mistakes can happen, and we fix them quickly and openly.
- Email [email protected] with the page and the problem.
- We check the claim against the original source.
- If it is wrong, we correct it and update the "Last reviewed" date.
- Significant corrections are noted on the page.
What we will never do
Promote fake IDs
We do not sell, review, rank or recommend fake IDs or sellers, and we never explain how to get past an ID check.
Exaggerate the risks
We report penalties as the law states them. Scare tactics don't help readers, and the real facts are serious enough.
Give legal advice
Our guides explain the law in general. For a specific case, readers should speak to a qualified solicitor or attorney.
Hide our interests
If we ever show ads or partner content, we will label it clearly and keep it separate from our guides.
Questions about this policy?
Email us at [email protected]. We welcome feedback on how we can make our guides clearer and more useful.