Campaign to Make Victorians Aware of New Law on Supply of Alcohol to Minors
A $1 million education campaign about the supply of alcohol to minors was launched by Mental Health Minister, Mary Wooldridge and Consumer Affairs Minister, Michael O'Brien.
The joint initiative between the Victorian Government, VicHealth and the Australian Drug Foundation, will ensure young Victorians and parents are aware of a new law governing the supply of alcohol to people under the age of 18.
The education and awareness campaign will feature advertisements in newspapers, on bus and tram stops and online – a comprehensive new website featuring webinars, podcasts and community forums.
The objective of the campaign is to convey the new law and the potential harm caused by supplying alcohol to young people.
Previous law on the supply of alcohol to minors did not apply to private homes, which on occasion resulted in adults supplying alcohol to minors without their parents' knowledge.
From 1 November, it will be against the law to serve alcohol in a private home to anyone under 18, without parental or guardian consent. Anyone breaking the law could be fined up to $7,000.
One third of all Victorian secondary students are binge drinking each week and that puts them at risk of short-term harms, such as injury or sexual assault. This new law will help prevent those harms.
As part of the campaign, there will also be an interactive education program which will help parents discuss this issue with their children.
For more information about the new law or to request an education pack, visit the VicHealth website.
For Information about the alcohol industry, laws and regulations, visit the Responsible Alcohol Victoria website.