From the Nurses Desk

Young People, Alcohol and Secondary Supply

The legal drinking age in Victoria is 18 years of age. Depending on the situation, someone under the age of 18, a minor, may be allowed on licensed premises but under no circumstances is the supply of liquor to persons under 18 years of age for consumption on licensed premises permitted.  Australia’s drinking guidelines recommend anyone under 18 should not drink. For young people up until the age of 25 drinking alcohol can affect how the brain develops. This includes areas of the brain associated with attention, memory, and decision-making abilities. Delaying drinking alcohol as long as possible can help reduce these harms.  

Supplying alcohol to young people

It is an offence for a person to supply alcohol to a minor in a private home without parental consent. A parent or legal guardian may give verbal or written consent for a person to supply alcohol to their child.  A person who supplies alcohol to a minor without a parent's consent could be subject to the same penalty faced by licensees who supply alcohol to minors in licensed venues, as well as potentially other legal convictions if injury or harm occur while the young person is alcohol affected.

Secondary supply of Alcohol

Secondary supply is a legal term used to describe an adult providing alcohol to someone under 18 (supplying or buying it for them)This is the most common way that young people obtain alcohol.  In Australia, it’s illegal to serve alcohol in a private home to anyone under 18, unless you’re the young person’s parent or guardian or, you have written or verbal permission from their parent/guardian. 

Fiona Keech

Adolescent Health Nurse @ SSSC Thursdays & Fridays