Minors and under-age drinking on licensed premises

A minor is a person who is under 18 years of age. As a licensee, you and your employees have a legal responsibility to:

• prevent under-age people from entering your licensed premises (unless they are exempted)
• refuse to sell alcohol to minors.

Penalties and fines exist for having non-exempt minors on-site, selling alcohol to minors, or allowing them to drink alcohol. The best way to protect yourself and your staff from being fined is to ensure that every young patron of your venue is strictly checked for valid identification (ID) and legal age.

This guide explains licensees' legal requirements for dealing with minors and under-age drinking on licensed premises. It discusses exceptions for minors being on licensed premises, acceptable types of ID and the requirements for checking ID properly, and penalties for not complying with the law.