Minors and identification
Licensees have a responsibility to understand the law and how it relates to minors.
A minor is a person who is under 18 years of age. Under the Liquor Act 1992, a minor is not permitted to be on licensed premises. As a licensee, it is your responsibility to ensure that minors do not gain entry to licensed premises.
The exceptions are if the minor is a resident, employee, person conducting a lawful business, undertaking training or work experience, at a function, eating a meal, or accompanied by a responsible adult. However, there are also restrictions around each of these categories of minor.
If minors are found on your premises, you (and your staff) may be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000.
Identification (ID)
Four forms of ID are acceptable in licensed venues:
- a current driver licence or learner permit
- a current passport (from any country)
- an Australian Government-issued proof of age card (18+ Card)
- a Victorian Keypass.
A foreign driver licence is accepted as evidence of age, providing it has a photo and the date of birth of the licence holder.
The Minors fact sheet (PDF 110 K) provides a thorough overview of your rights and responsibilities regarding minors and ID.
Confiscating ID documents
Suspected fake, defaced or falsely presented documents should be confiscated and forwarded to OLGR as soon as possible, with an ID confiscation report (PDF 185 K), for further investigation.
Australian Identification Checking Toolkit
The Australian Identification Checking Toolkit helps licensees and their staff to prevent underage drinking in their venues. The toolkit consists of a booklet, the Australian iD Checking Guide and a black/UV light.
The toolkit can be purchased from the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing in New South Wales.
Contacts
- General liquor licence inquiries: phone 13 QGOV (13 74 68)
- Liquor licence compliance inquiries: email liquor-compliance-enquiries@deedi.qld.gov.au
Last reviewed 4 August 2011