DRINKING AGE LAWS IN AUSTRALIA
Downloaded information 17 August 2015
http://www.lawstuff.org.au/act_law/topics/Alcohol
Victoria is the only state in Australia where it is legal for an under 18 to drink alcohol in
a licensed premise.
ACT
If you are under 18, it is against the law for you to drink, obtain, or be given alcohol on
licensed premises. It is against the law for an under 18 to be on licensed premises unless with
a parent or someone else responsible for them.
•If you’re under 18, it’s against the law to be on licensed premises unless you're with a parent
or someone else responsible for you.
•If you’re caught breaking the law, you can be fined, given a caution or warning.
•There are no laws that make it a crime to drink alcohol on private premises BUT if you’re
having a party it’s a good idea to get permission from the parents of anyone who is under 18.
Drinking on licensed premises
Licensed premises are public places that have been given a license by the government to sell
or serve alcohol. These include bottle shops, pubs, bars, clubs, and some restaurants (called
licensed restaurants).
If you are under 18, it is against the law for you to drink, obtain, or be given alcohol on
licensed premises. It doesn’t matter if you are with your parent or guardian. If you are
caught, you can be:
•given a warning, a formal caution, or choose to go to court (which may fine you $750).
The police decide which penalty to apply, but you can always choose to go to court instead.
NSW
If you are under 18, it is against the law for you to drink, obtain, or be given alcohol on
licensed premises. If you’re under 18, it’s against the law to be on licensed premises unless
you’re with a parent.
•If you’re under 18, it’s against the law for you to buy alcohol. It’s also against the law to use
a fake ID to try and buy alcohol or get into a pub, club or bar.
•If you’re under 18, it’s against the law to be on licensed premises unless you’re with a
parent, and even then you’re not allowed to drink.
•If you’re caught breaking the law, you could be fined, given a caution or warning.
•There are no laws that make it a crime to drink alcohol supplied by your parents in a private
home BUT your parents can get into trouble unless they get permission from the parents of
anyone who is under 18.
Drinking on licensed premises
Licensed premises are public places that have been given a license by the government to sell
or serve alcohol. These include bottle shops, pubs, bars, clubs, and some restaurants (called
licensed restaurants).
If you are under 18, it is against the law for you to drink, obtain, or be given alcohol on
licensed premises. It doesn’t matter if you are with your parent or guardian. If you are caught,
you can be given a warning, a formal caution, fined on the spot ($220), or choose to go to
court.
The police decide which penalty to apply, but you can always choose to go to court instead.
Remember, it’s against the law for you to even be on licensed premises (say a pub, club or
bar) unless you are under the care of a parent or responsible adult.
NORTHERN TERITORRY
It is against the law for under 18s to drink on licensed premises
Drinking on licensed premises
Licensed premises are public places that have been given a license by the government to sell
or serve alcohol. These include bottle shops, pubs, bars, clubs, and some restaurants (called
licensed restaurants).
If you are under 18, it is against the law for you to be on licensed premises unless you are
with your parent or guardian. It’s also against the law for you to drink on licensed premises,
even if you are with your parents. If you are caught, you can be:
•given a warning or sent to a Youth Justice Conference; or
•be fined $298 on the spot by the police; or
•choose to go to court (which may fine you $2,980).
QUEENSLAND
If you are under 18, it is against the law for you to drink or have alcohol on licensed
premises. If you’re under 18, it’s against the law to be on licensed premises unless you’re
with a parent.
•If you’re under 18, it’s against the law for you to buy alcohol. It’s also against the law to use
a fake ID to try and buy alcohol or get into a pub, club or bar.
•If you’re under 18, it’s against the law to be on licensed premises unless you’re with a
parent, and even then you can’t drink.
•If you’re caught breaking the law, you could be fined, given a caution or warning.
•There are no laws that make it a crime to drink alcohol supplied by your parents in a private
home BUT if you’re having a party and serving alcohol to under 18s, you generally need
permission from people’s parents.
Drinking on licensed premises
Licensed premises are public places that have been given a license by the government to sell
or serve alcohol. These include bottle shops, pubs, bars, clubs, and some restaurants (called
licensed restaurants).
If you are under 18, it is against the law for you to drink or have alcohol on licensed
premises. It doesn’t matter if you are with your parent or guardian. If you are caught, you can
be:
•given a warning;
•given a formal caution;
•fined on the spot ($341); or
•choose to go to court.
The police decide which penalty to apply, but you can always choose to go to court instead.
You are breaking the law just by being on licensed premises (like in a pub, club or bar) if you
are under 18, unless:
• you are with a responsible adult (like a parent or guardian); or
• you are eating a meal.
You can be fined $341 on the spot by the police if you are caught.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
If you are under 18, it is against the law for you to drink, get, or be given alcohol while you
are on licensed premises. If you’re under 18, it’s against the law to be on licensed premises
unless you’re with a parent.
•If you’re under 18, it’s against the law for you to buy alcohol. It’s also against the law to use
a fake ID to try and buy alcohol or get into a pub, club or bar.
•If you’re under 18, it’s against the law to be on licensed premises unless you’re with a
parent, and even then you can’t drink.
•If you’re caught breaking the law, you could be fined, given an informal caution or a formal
caution.
•There are no laws that make it a crime to drink alcohol in a private home BUT if you’re
having a party it’s a good idea to get permission from people’s parents if you are serving
alcohol anyone under 18.
Drinking on licensed premises
Licensed premises are public places that have been given a license by the government to sell
or serve alcohol. These include bottle shops, pubs, bars, clubs, and some restaurants (called
licensed restaurants).
If you are under 18, it is against the law for you to even be on licensed premises:
•with an entertainment venue licence between 9pm and 5am of the next day.
•be on any other licensed premises between midnight and 5am (except for example, in a
dining room) if liquor may be sold in the area at that time.
If you are under 18, it’s also against the law for you to drink, get, or be given alcohol while
you are there. It doesn’t matter if you are with your parent or guardian. You can be given a
warning, caution, or sent to Youth Court if you have been caught before.
TASMANIA
If you are under 18, it is against the law for you to drink, have, or be given alcohol in these
places, even if you’re with your parents. You’re also not allowed to even be there unless it’s a
specially signposted area and you’re either having a meal or with your parents.
•If you’re under 18, it’s against the law for you to buy alcohol. It’s also against the law to use
a fake ID to try and buy alcohol or get into a pub, club or bar.
•If you’re under 18, it’s generally against the law to be on licensed premises.
•If you’re caught breaking the law, you could be fined, given a caution or warning.
•There are no laws that make it a crime to drink alcohol supplied by your parents in a private
home BUT if you’re having a party and serving alcohol to under 18’s, you need permission
from people’s parents.
Drinking on licensed premises
Licensed premises are public places that have been given a license by the government to sell
or serve alcohol. These include bottle shops, pubs, bars, clubs, and some restaurants (called
licensed restaurants).
If you are under 18, it is against the law for you to drink, have, or be given alcohol in these
places, even if you’re with your parents. You’re also not allowed to even be there unless it’s a
specially signposted area and you’re either having a meal or with your parents. If you are
caught, you can be:
•given a warning, a formal caution, or choose to go to court (where you may be fined up to
$1,400 if convicted).
It is up to the police whether to give you a warning or caution.
VICTORIA
If you are under 18, it is against the law for you to drink, buy, or be given alcohol on licensed
premises, unless you are drinking while having a meal; and you are with your parent,
guardian or husband or wife (who is at least 18).
•If you’re under 18, it’s against the law for you to buy alcohol. It’s also against the law to use
a fake ID to try and buy alcohol or get into a pub, club or bar.
•If you’re under 18, it’s against the law to even be on licensed premises unless you’re with a
parent or having a meal.
•If you’re caught breaking the law, you could be fined, given a caution or warning.
•There are no laws that make it a crime to drink alcohol supplied by your parents in a private
home BUT if you’re having a party and serving alcohol to under 18s, you need permission
from people’s parents.
Drinking on licensed premises
Licensed premises are public places that have been given a license by the government to sell
or serve alcohol. These include bottle shops, pubs, bars, clubs, and most restaurants
(including BYO restaurants where people bring their own alcohol).
If you are under 18, it is against the law for you to drink, buy, or be given alcohol on licensed
premises, unless:
•you are drinking while having a meal; and
•you are with your parent, guardian or husband or wife (who is at least 18).
It’s also against the law for you to even be on licensed premises unless:
•you’re having a meal; or
•you’re with a parent, guardian or husband or wife (who is at least 18); or
•if you’re at a restaurant/café with a liquor licence and it’s between 7am and 11pm Monday
to Saturday or between 10am and 11pm on Sundays.
Otherwise, if you are caught, you can be:
? given a warning, a formal caution,
? fined on the spot ($73.80),
? or choose to go to court.
The police decide which penalty to apply, but you can always choose to go to court instead.
The alcohol can also be confiscated by the police.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
If you are under 18, it is against the law for you to drink, get, or be given alcohol on licensed
premises. It doesn’t matter if you are with your parent or guardian. If you’re under 18, it’s
against the law to be on licensed premises unless you’re with a parent.
•If you’re under 18, it’s against the law for you to buy alcohol. It’s also against the law to use
a fake ID to try and buy alcohol or get into a pub, club or bar.
•If you’re under 18, it’s against the law to be on licensed premises unless you’re with a
parent, and even then you’re not allowed to drink.
•If you’re caught breaking the law, you can be fined, given a caution or warning.
•There are no laws that make it a crime to drink alcohol on private premises BUT if you’re
having a party it’s a good idea to get permission from the parents of anyone who is under 18.
Drinking on licensed premises
Licensed premises are public places that have been given a license by the government to sell
or serve alcohol. These include bottle shops, pubs, bars, clubs, and some restaurants (called
licensed restaurants).
If you are under 18, it is against the law for you to drink, get, or be given alcohol on licensed
premises. It doesn’t matter if you are with your parent or guardian. If you are caught, you can
be:
•get warning, a formal caution from the police; or
•get a $200 fine on the spot from police; or
•choose to have the matter decided by a court (which may fine you up to $2,000 if you are
convicted).
The police decide which penalty to apply, but you can always choose to go to court instead.
Remember, it’s also against the law for you to even be on licensed premises (say a pub, club
or bar) unless you are under the care of a parent or responsible adult or you’re having a meal,
or if it’s a licensed restaurant and you are there to have a meal.