The legal drinking age in Victoria is 18 years of age. Depending on the situation, a person under the age of 18 may be allowed on licensed premises but cannot be supplied alcohol. Read about underage patrons on licensed premises.
Parental consent
Under the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 it is an offence for a person to supply alcohol to a person under the age of 18 years in a private home without parental consent. These laws ensure that parents and legal guardians are involved in how their child is supplied alcohol in someone else's home.
The consent helps parents feel assured that their children are not drinking alcohol, without their knowledge, whilst visiting friends' houses. A parent or legal guardian may give verbal or written consent a person supplying alcohol.
A person supplying alcohol to a person under the age of 18 without a parent's consent could be fined more than $22,000.
Responsible supervision
An adult (a person over 18 who is the parent, guardian or spouse of the minor, or who is authorised to supply liquor to the minor by the minor’s parent, guardian or spouse) can supply alcohol to an underage person in their home if they can demonstrate responsible supervision of the supply of alcohol.
Factors to be considered when determining whether responsible supervision has been demonstrated include:
- the age of the young person
- whether the adult supplying the alcohol is intoxicated
- whether the underage person consumes food with the alcohol
- whether the person supplying the alcohol is supervising the underage person’s consumption of the alcohol
- the quantity and type of alcohol supplied
- the period of time in which the alcohol is supplied
- whether the person under 18 is intoxicated.
Updated