The legal drinking age in Victoria is 18. If you are under 18, you are not allowed to buy alcohol. Usually, you are also not allowed to be in a licensed place where alcohol is served unless it is a restaurant or cafe, or you are there with your parents.
The person selling alcohol in a licensed place may ask you for proof of your age. This is because they can be fined if they serve alcohol to someone who is under the legal drinking age.
Buying alcohol
It is against the law to buy alcohol if you are under 18 years old, even if you are buying for an adult.
If you ask adult friends to buy alcohol for you, they can get fined if they give that alcohol to you.
Proof of age and fake IDs
If bar staff think that you look young, they will ask for proof that you are old enough to be there.
You can be fined if you give a false name and address or if you refuse to give proof of age when you are asked.
Altering an ID card to make it look like you’re 18 or older or giving someone else a fake ID is also against the law. It’s also illegal to let someone else use your own ID.
You can get a proof of age card to show that you are over 18 years old if you do not have a driver licence. Forms are available from your local post office
Going to a pub or bar
If you are under 18 you can go to a pub or bar if you:
- go with a responsible person, like your parents, grandparents or a guardian
- are eating a meal
- live, work or are studying hospitality there.
You, the person who is serving you, and the owner of the licensed place can get a fine if you are caught in a licensed place like a bar or a pub when you are not authorised to be there.
Drinking alcohol at parties
It is also against the law to give alcohol to people who are under 18 without consent from their parents or guardian. This includes parties held in private homes.
If parents are organising parties for their underage children, it is probably best to get this permission in writing. This may also affect young adults who have guests who are under 18 in their homes.
Defences
It is a defence if the person who served the alcohol can prove that they had seen a document as evidence of the person's age at the time of the offence.
Penalties
The maximum penalty for allowing a young person in a licensed place, serving alcohol to a person under 18 or buying alcohol for someone underage, is 60 penalty units.
An employee who serves alcohol to someone under 18 can be fined up to 10 penalty units.
The maximum penalty for a person under 18 who buys or drinks alcohol or who is found on licensed premises when they are not authorised to be there, is 5 penalty units.
Other support
Find out how you can get other support for criminal offences.
Publications and resources
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