Supplying alcohol to under 18s
Under the Liquor Act 1992 it is illegal to supply anyone under 18 years old with alcohol at a private place (such as the family home) if you're not:
- the ‘responsible adult’
and - providing ‘responsible supervision’ of their consumption.
What are you really buying them?
In 2019 the Queensland Government launched the 'What are you really buying them?' campaign, which aims to encourage parents, step-parents, guardians and friends of under 18s to think before supplying them with alcohol.
This campaign is in licensed venues and take-away liquor outlets across Queensland. Read more about the What are you really buying them? campaign.
Research shows that up to 1 in 5 under 18s are victims of alcohol-related incidents, including sexual assault, and are at physical risk from risky behaviour and violence. They could also be fined for possessing alcohol.
Under 18s who are supplied alcohol could fall victim to one of these scenarios. The campaign also invites minors to view risky behaviours as a deterrent to consuming alcohol.
Penalties for irresponsibly supplying alcohol to a person under 18 at a private place
You could face court and be fined up to $12,904 for supplying alcohol to an under 18 year old while at a private place, if you're not their responsible adult and providing responsible supervision.
Definition of a ‘responsible adult’
A 'responsible adult' is a parent, step-parent or guardian, or an adult who has parental rights and responsibilities for the under 18 year olds.
Definition of ‘responsible supervision’
Under the law, various factors are considered in deciding whether alcohol is being supplied under ‘responsible supervision’. These include:
- the age of the under-age person
- whether the adult is unduly intoxicated
- if the under-age person is unduly intoxicated
- whether the under-age person is eating food while drinking alcohol
- if the adult is responsibly supervising the under-age person’s alcohol intake
- the volume of alcohol being supplied and the period it is supplied over.
Definition of ‘unduly intoxicated'
A person may be taken to be 'unduly intoxicated' if both:
- their speech, balance, coordination or behaviour is noticeably affected
- there are reasonable grounds for believing the affected speech, balance, coordination or behaviour is the result of the consumption of liquor, drugs or another intoxicating substance.
For more information about supplying alcohol to under 18s contact the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation.