Underage drinking offences

The main underage drinking offences by minors and adults and the maximum monetary penalties for those offences are set out in the following table.

OFFENCE	MAXIMUM PENALTY	OFFENCE BY
Supply alcohol to, or obtain alcohol for, anyone under 18	$11,000 and/or 12 months imprisonment	Minor or adult
Allow liquor to be sold/supplied to a minor on licensed premises	$11,000 and/or 12 months imprisonment	licensee
Drink alcohol on licensed premises	$2,200	Minor
Consume or carry away alcohol from licensed premises	$2,200	Minor
Send anyone under 18 to licensed premises to obtain alcohol	$3,300	Minor or adult
Enter or remain in a bar area of a hotel or registered club or a minors' area of a hotel without a responsible adult (1)	$2,200 $5,500	Minor licensee
Enter or remain on public entertainment premises unless in the company and immediate presence of a responsible adult or attending a minors' function	$2,200 $5,500	Minor Licensee
Responsible adult who allows minor to drink alcohol on licensed premises or leaves the minor without first informing the licensee or an employee of the licensee	$3,300	Adult
Refuse to give name and address or age when requested by an authorised person (2)	$2,200	Minor
Use false evidence of age	$2,200	Minor

Notes to table:

A responsible adult is defined as:
i. a parent, step-parent or guardian of the minor;
ii. the minor's spouse or defacto;
iii. for the time being, standing in as the parent of the minor.
authorised person - a licensee, their employees or agents, a police officer or an inspector.

On-the-spot Fines

On-the-spot fines can be issued for offences under the Liquor Act and are generally 10% of the maximum court penalty for the offence.

Summary Offences Act Offences

Possession or consumption of alcohol by minors in public places is covered by the Summary Offences Act 1988. It is an offence for a minor to possess or consume alcohol in a public place unless the minor is under the supervision of a responsible adult or had a reasonable excuse for possessing or consuming the alcohol. A maximum penalty of $20 applies to this offence.

Further information

PDF Underage drinking laws fact sheet