The following article has been republished with permission from Liquor Control Victoria.
Reducing harm to young people is everyone's business
Young people are particularly vulnerable to alcohol-related harm because their brains and bodies are still developing. The brain goes through important changes during puberty and continues to develop until around 25 years of age, making it more sensitive to damage from alcohol.
Alcohol is also a significant factor in the four leading causes of older adolescent deaths: suicide, transport accidents, accidental poisoning, and assault.
You can support the health and wellbeing of young people and minimise harm by following Victoria’s liquor laws.
You and your staff can reduce the risk of service to minors in your venue by:
- Checking identification (ID) for anyone that looks to be under the age of 25.
- Knowing how to identify fake ID.
- Refusing entry if a person cannot provide an acceptable form of ID and looks under the age of 25.
- Monitoring your venue regularly to ensure minors are not present (if not permitted).
- Communicating with neighbouring venues when refusing service or entry to minors.
- Monitoring for secondary supply of alcohol in and outside your venue. · Using our checklist for reducing harm to young people when onboarding staff and managers.
If you supply alcohol to a minor, you can be fined over $23,000, with additional costs to your annual liquor licence renewal fee.
Keeping minors safe at licensed events
Certain types of events can increase the risk of minors illegally accessing alcohol at your venue.
These include:
- 18th and 21st birthdays
- all-ages music festivals and large outdoor events
- sporting club activities.
You can reduce the chances of underage people accessing alcohol at events by:
- Using clear wrist-bands to identify underage customers.
- Ensuring minors are always supervised by a responsible adult.
- Monitoring behaviour for signs of intoxication.
- Engaging sufficient licensed crowd controllers.
- Monitoring for secondary supply of alcohol.
- Ensuring alcohol is not freely available (for example, via self-service).
A responsible adult includes a young person's parent, step-parent, guardian, grandparent, or a person acting in place of a parent who could reasonably be expected to supervise responsibly.
Not every person over the age of 18 qualifies as a responsible adult. For example, a 19-year-old with their 17-year-old sibling may not qualify as a responsible adult because they may not be acting in place of a parent and may not be able to supervise responsibly.
End of School Celebrations
Year 12 students will soon sit their final exams, signalling the start of celebrations for school leavers.
Licensees should be mindful of heightened risks, including:
- Adults buying alcohol for minors (secondary supply).
- Minors placing orders for home delivery.
- Minors using fake ID.
When checking ID, remember to:
- Only allow acceptable forms of ID.
- Ask customers to remove plastic ID cards from wallets.
- Hold the plastic card and feel for any imperfections or signs of tampering.
- Ask for a second form of ID if in doubt.

By completing the CFT RSA VIC course, you’ll not only meet the legal requirements but also gain the skills needed to protect young people from alcohol-related harm. The course will equip you with practical tools to identify minors, handle ID checks effectively, and manage high-risk events, helping to ensure a safe environment for all. Your training will empower you and your team to prevent underage drinking, support responsible service, and uphold Victoria's strict liquor laws—making your venue a safer place for everyone.
Stay compliant, reduce risks, and contribute to a healthier, safer community with the CFT RSA VIC course.
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