Can I go into a bottle store or supermarket to buy alcohol?
Can I serve alcohol at my party at home?
Can I drink alcohol at a party on the beach?
Other Parties


Can I go into a bottle store or supermarket to buy alcohol?

• If you are over 18
  You can do this by yourself.
  
  
• Under 18
  You can do this if you are accompanied by a parent or guardian who supplies the alcohol to you.

Can I serve alcohol at my party at home?

You can let people drink alcohol at your party at any age but you cannot sell it to them. It is illegal to sell alcohol without a licence. If you charge a door fee for the party this could be seen as a charge for the alcohol so it is not a good idea to try and get around the law like that.

If you are having a big party or it is a fund-raising event and want to sell alcohol you might want to apply for a ‘special licence’. You should contact your local Council to find out how to go about this. The person applying for the licence must be 20y/o or over.

Can I drink alcohol at a party on the beach?

A beach is a ‘public place’. It is an offence to be ‘drunk and disorderly’ at any age so if you are drinking you will need to keep it under control. However there are additional controls on young people drinking in a public place. If you are under 18 you are breaking the law if you are drinking in public or have alcohol with you to drink there unless you are with your parent or guardian. The penalty for drinking in a public place under 18 or having alcohol in your possession in a public place (without having your parent or guardian with you) is a maximum fine of $300.


[s38 Summary Offences Act 1981]

Other Parties

If you have a party at a park and you want to drink alcohol, there are certain areas that Local Councils can ban alchohol (Alcohol Bans). They will first have to advertise the ban.

Event organisers can also ban or restrict alcohol at an event.

Remember, the police can fine you up to $500 if they:

• find you drinking in a specified public place
• you remain in a public place after the police have asked you to leave; or
• if you fail to give the police your alcohol container when you are required to.