Senior Years and Wellbeing
As we begin the new school year we also begin what seems like a never-ending stream of 18th birthday parties. Whilst we recognise this is an important milestone to celebrate, our senior students have been advised against the consumption of excessive alcohol during this time.
Below is an extract from the Australian Alcohol and Drug Foundation for parents wishing to host a party where alcohol may be provided.
Alcohol and drugs
There are risks involved if you choose to provide alcohol or allow young people to drink at the party. As the legal host, you are responsible for providing a safe environment and could potentially be held liable if anything goes wrong – even after the party, if the guests leave drunk.
Making a decision
When deciding whether to serve alcohol, consider the Australian alcohol guidelines which recommend people under the age of 18 should avoid alcohol.
If you do decide to serve alcohol, perhaps at an 18th birthday party, remember that most states and territories in Australia have secondary supply laws. This means that it’s illegal for you to serve underage guests alcohol without their parent or legal guardian’s permission, even if the party is in your home. It’s also illegal for guests to pass underage guests alcohol without this permission. Hefty fines apply for both adults and minors.
Serving alcohol
If you do provide alcohol at the party it’s a good idea to:
- Tell parents ahead of time
- Set up an agreement between yourself and your child about alcohol and adult supervision
- Make sure no one under 18 years is served or given alcohol unless you have their parent’s explicit approval
- Only make alcohol available from one area, and have a responsible adult who is not drinking as the bartender
- Only serve low-alcohol drinks, make sure great non-alcoholic options are on hand
- Avoid drinks like punch that could be easily spiked
- Ensure there’s lots of food and that people can see it or that it’s being offered around, but try not to serve very salty snacks as they make people thirsty and could cause people to drink more
- Plan for guests to sleep over if no one can take them home
Confiscating alcohol and drugs
Even if you decide not to serve alcohol, you might have to deal with guests trying to bring alcohol and drugs into the party. Talk to your child about whether you’ll confiscate alcohol and drugs, including what you’ll do with these substances.
If you chose to return what’s been confiscated after the party is over, you could still be held liable for any accidents that happen after the guests have left. You can consider the option of instead returning the substance to the guest’s parent.
Drunk guests
While you’re setting the rules for the party, talk about what you’ll do if a guest is drunk. Drunk guests can ruin the party for others and create dangerous situations. As the host, you have the right to send the guest home – but you should organise transport to make sure they get home safely.
Kristen Waldron