IMPORTANT NOTICE: A Declared State of Disaster is currently in place across Victoria. For more information, see: COVID-19 information for licensees
IMPORTANT NOTICE: A Declared State of Disaster is currently in place across Victoria. For more information, see: COVID-19 information for licensees
Working in partnership with VicRoads and Victoria Police, inspectors from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) will be visiting venues throughout Melbourne CBD to ensure licensees are compliant when it comes to underage patrons.
The legal drinking age in Victoria is 18 years of age. Therefore, it is generally an offence for any person to supply alcohol to minors. In many instances, it is also an offence for a minor to be on licensed premises or to purchase, receive or consume alcohol.
The end of VCE exams in mid-November is expected to see an influx of young people celebrating the end of school in licensed premises throughout Melbourne’s CBD. Licensees are reminded to practice responsible service of alcohol including not serving liquor to underage patrons.
Licensees and their staff need to be particularly vigilant when checking identification (ID). Important points about checking patron ID are as follows:
Acceptable evidence of age documents under the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 (the Act) are:
There are offences for using fake IDs and misusing someone else’s ID.
If you doubt that the ID presented is authentic but are not sure, ask for a second form of identification to help determine whether the ID is fake or does not belong to the person presenting it. Then if you determine that one or both of the presented IDs are fake or borrowed, licensees can refuse entry to the premises.
It is an offence to permit underage persons on licensed premises (other than as permitted under section 120(1) of the Act).
The VCGLR reminds both licensees and underage students to know their responsibilities so everyone can enjoy the end of school safely.
