Alcohol and the law
Alcohol and the law
How alcohol affects our health
Alcohol
is Australia’s most widely used
drug
. Drinking alcohol can affect the way our body functions. It can also cause significant harm within the community – especially when it is consumed at risky levels.
Drinking can increase your risk of alcohol-related illness and injury, including:
bowel
,
breast
,
throat
and
mouth cancer
liver disease
cardiovascular disease (CVD) (such as
heart disease
and
stroke
)
accidents and falls (such as
motor vehicle crashes
and
alcohol poisoning
)
violence.
The
Australian Drinking
Guidelines
External Link
recommend that to reduce the risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury:
healthy adults should drink no more than 10
standard
drinks
External Link
a week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day.
An Australian standard drink contains 10g of alcohol (12.5ml of pure alcohol) – and one serving of alcohol is usually more than one ‘standard drink’ as different types of alcoholic drinks contain different amounts of pure alcohol.
The less you drink, the lower your risk of alcohol-related harm. For some people, not drinking at all is the safest option.
Reasons for alcohol laws
Every Australian state and territory has laws governing the use and service of alcohol – and these may differ depending on the state or territory you are in.
Laws can help to minimise the harmful effects of alcohol on our health and well-being and protect the community from risky behaviour caused by alcohol use.
Alcohol laws in Victoria
Within Victoria, alcohol laws have consequences (such as fines, imprisonment or disqualification from driving) to deter people from risky behaviour.
In Victoria, there are alcohol laws and consequences relating to:
drinking in a public place
underage drinking (including
secondary
supply
External Link
)
liquor licensing
drink driving.
You are breaking the law anywhere in Australia if you drink and drive with a
blood alcohol concentration
(BAC)
External Link
over 0.05.
Public drunkenness in Victoria
Public drunkenness is no longer a criminal offence in Victoria (from 7 November 2023).
The focus on decriminalising public intoxication is to reduce harm. People who are now found drunk in a public place can receive support that prioritises their health, safety and wellbeing.
Learn more about
public intoxication reform on the Victorian Government’s Department of Health
website
External Link
.
Learn more about
public intoxication response services on the Victorian Government’s Department of Health
website
External Link
.
Alcohol-related violence trouble spots
Under the
Liquor Control Reform Act
1998
External Link
, certain areas shown to have a greater tendency for alcohol related violence and antisocial behaviour can be classified as ‘
designated
areas
External Link
’. This determination is made by the
Victorian Liquor Commission
(VLC)
External Link
in consultation with the Chief Commissioner of Police.
Once an area has been ‘designated’ Victoria Police has the power to ban people from that area for up to 72 hours for various offences (including physical assault, destroying or damaging property and failure to leave licensed premises. Repeat offenders can be banned for up to 12 months.
Barring problem customers from licensed premises
There are 3 ways problem customers can be barred or banned from licensed premises:
General powers to refuse entry
– every licensee can refuse entry or ask a person to leave (as long as this refusal is non-discriminatory)
Ban entry under a liquor accord
– licensees can join or sign a ‘liquor accord agreement’ to ban troublesome people.
Issue a Barring Order
Victoria Police, licensees or ‘responsible persons’ can issue an order that is enforced by Victoria Police.
Barring orders
When someone is served with a Barring Order, they must leave the venue and its vicinity (the area within 20 metres of the venue). They cannot return until the Barring Order expires.
If you do not comply with the requirements of a Barring Order, police may issue an on-the-spot fine.
Barring can be for up to 1 month (for a first order). If you’ve been barred more than once, you can be barred for up to 6 months.
Victoria’s laws for underage drinking
The legal drinking age in Victoria is 18. If you’re under 18, there are several ways you can get in trouble with the law if you buy or drink alcohol.
Buying alcohol
If you’re under 18, you’re not allowed to buy alcohol, even if you’re buying it for an adult (someone over the age of 18).
If you’re an adult who supplies alcohol for someone who is under 18, this is known as
secondary
supply
External Link
.
If you’re under 18 and you ask someone over 18 to buy alcohol for you they can get fined. Secondary supply is completely prohibited in a licensed venue. In a private residence, alcohol can be supplied by a parent or guardian of the minor, or by a responsible adult who has explicit permission from the parent or guardian.
These laws and penalties also apply to online alcohol orders and deliveries.
Places that are licenced to supply alcohol and delivery companies need to check identification (IDs) and make sure they do not give alcohol to anyone who is already intoxicated.
Going to a pub, bar or other licensed premises
If you are under 18, you are not allowed to be in a licensed place (such as a bar or pub) where alcohol is served unless you are:
with a responsible adult
having a meal
a resident of the licensed place
employed by the licensed venue but not involved in the supply of alcohol
completing an approved training program in hospitality.
You, the person who is serving you, and the owner of the licensed place, can be fined if you’re caught and do not satisfy one or more of the above categories.
A liquor licensee can receive hefty fines (in the thousands) for selling alcohol to a minor (anyone under 18).
Proof of age
You may be asked for proof of age in a licensed place or when ordering alcohol online.
People selling alcohol in licensed places can be fined if they serve alcohol to someone who is under the legal drinking age (under 18).
It’s an offence to give a false name and address, or to refuse to show proof of age, and you can be fined.
A driver’s licence is the best proof of age, but if you don’t have one, you can
get a proof of age
card
External Link
which is recognised across Australia. Application forms are available at some VicRoads and Australia Post offices and the Victorian Liquor Commission.
Underage drinking in private homes
The Liquor Control Reform Act requires adults supplying alcohol to anyone under 18 in their home to demonstrate responsible supervision of the supply of liquor. The following laws apply:
parents or guardians may allow their children (under 18) to drink in their own home
you cannot supply alcohol to any other children (under 18) in your home without consent from their parent or guardian. Hefty fines apply.
If you are organising a party or social event for anyone under 18 you need to get written consent from their parents or guardians.
Authorities consider certain factors to determine whether responsible supervision has been demonstrated. This includes:
age of the young person and whether they are intoxicated (drunk)
whether the adult supplying the liquor is intoxicated
whether the young person consumes food with the alcohol
whether the adult who supplies the alcohol provides adequate supervision of the young person who is drinking
the quantity and type of alcohol supplied
how long the alcohol is supplied.
Penalties for underage drinking
Penalties are in place to help minimise the risks of drinking for anyone under 18. One penalty unit is nearly $190 – the maximum is 60 penalty units.
The following penalties apply in Victoria:
Offence
Penalty units
serving alcohol to someone under 18 in a licensed place
serving alcohol to a young person under 18
buying alcohol for someone under 18
60 units (maximum)
employee who serves alcohol to someone under 18
up to 10 units
under 18 who buys or drinks alcohol
under 18 who is found on licensed premises when they are not authorised to be there
up to 5 units
Victoria’s liquor licensing laws
Every state and territory has liquor licensing laws. Liquor licences regulate:
who supplies alcohol
who it can be supplied to
when it can supplied or consumed
where it can be supplied or consumed
how it is supplied.
In Victoria, the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 controls the sale and supply of alcohol. One of its objectives is to minimise alcohol-related harm.
The
VLC
External Link
administers
Victoria’s liquor licensing
laws
External Link
. It’s an independent statutory authority responsible for:
administering liquor licences
undertaking disciplinary action where necessary
promoting awareness of and voluntary compliance with the State’s liquor laws.
Generally, anyone who intends to sell or provide liquor in Victoria must have a liquor licence from the VLC. However, there are a number of exemptions for smaller businesses whose primary service is not liquor-related.
People in the community have the right to object to an application for a liquor licence. More information is available from the
Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s community
hub
External Link
.
Breaches of a liquor licence carry
penalties
External Link
.
Drink driving laws in Victoria
Alcohol
is a major factor in road deaths in Victoria.
According to the
Transport Accident
Commission
External Link
around 1 in 5 drivers and riders killed each year in Victoria had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over the legal limit of 0.05.
Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit
The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for fully licensed drivers in Victoria, and all other states and territories, is 0.05.
In Victoria, you must have a zero (0.00) BAC if you are:
on a learner permit (L plates)
on a probationary licence (P1 or P2 plates)
a bus or taxi driver
drive a truck over 4.5 tonnes GVM
a restricted motorcycle rider (shown as an ‘E’ condition)
a driver who has been relicensed after a drink-driving or drug-driving cancellation
a driving instructor.
Factors that influence blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
The only way to accurately measure your BAC is by using a fully calibrated testing machine.
A lot of factors can influence your BAC. These include:
the amount and type of alcohol consumed
the rate of drinking and time since the last drink
the amount of alcohol remaining in the stomach
other foods or liquids in the stomach
the amount of alcohol already metabolised by the
liver
your general health
the condition of your liver
your
metabolic rate
physical factors (such as body size and lean tissue to body fat ratio)
volume of water in body tissues – can be affected by things such as medication, illness and your
menstrual cycle
.
As everyone’s BAC can be different, the only way to be sure is to not drink alcohol if you are going to drive.
Breath testing
Victoria
Police
External Link
carries out extensive
roadside breath
testing
External Link
, screening millions of drivers for the presence of alcohol each year.
The procedure is straightforward. The driver is instructed to blow into a hand-held device until deep lung air is exhaled. The BAC reading is given on the digital display.
Refusing a breath test is a serious offence with severe penalties. A driver who does not cooperate is likely to be fined and disqualified from driving.
Drink driving penalties in Victoria
In Victoria, the
penalties for drink driving
depend on factors such as:
your BAC level
type of offence and when it happened
your age
driver’s licence or permit held
whether you have prior drink-driving offences.
If you are convicted of
drink driving in
Victoria
External Link
you may:
lose your licence
face fines
have your vehicle impounded or immobilised
complete a
Behaviour Change
Program
External Link
need to install a
VicRoads approved alcohol
interlock
External Link
to any vehicle you drive – this is a requirement to have your licence or permit reissued
face possible imprisonment.
It is also an offence to drink alcohol while driving a car, or while sitting beside someone who is learning to drive, even if there is no alcohol detected in the driver’s blood or breath.
Significant penalties also apply in Victoria to drivers who are caught driving with a combination of
illicit
drugs
External Link
in their system and a blood or BAC reading over the legal limit.
Where to get help
Your
GP (doctor)
DrugInfo
External Link
Tel.
1300 85 85 84
Self Help Addiction Resource Centre
(SHARC)
External Link
Tel.
1300 660 068
Alcohol and other drug treatment
services
External Link
DirectLine
External Link
Tel.
1800 888 236
Your local
community health
service
External Link
Victorian Liquor
Commission
External Link
Tel.
1300 182 457
Victoria Legal
Aid
External Link
– for free information about the law, and how VLA can help you Tel.
1300 792 387
, 8.45 am to 5.15 pm, Monday to Friday
VicRoads
External Link
Tel.
13 11 71
(Monday to Friday 8am-5.30pm, Saturday 8.30am-12.30pm)