Ask RiotACT: Licensing laws

I was in a bottle shop today when a bloke and his daughter were busy filling a number of shopping trolleys with booze. The guy told the staff that he was getting it for his daughter’s upcoming 18th birthday party, At that point one of the staff asked if she was 18 yet, which she wasn’t. They had to ask them to leave, as turns out it’s an offence to purchase alcohol for supply to someone under 18. Clearly this bloke had no intention of doing so, but once the staff were aware of the girl’s age, it seems they had no choice.

They stormed out, the bloke clearly pissed off and never likely to return, leaving a very large purchase behind, and obviously going to pick his words more carefully at the next bottle shop he goes to.

Rollersk8r said :

Not directly related – but I tried to buy a drink in an EMPTY NSW pub last year – and before I could even order the guy was yelling “THE KIDS CAN’T BE IN HERE!!”

I’ve never understood that one. Because drunk adults will trip over children? Because children will witness swearing and vulgar drunk behaviour? Because kids will randomly start chugging any unattended drinks?

Probably because it’s a condition of their liquor license and if they lose said licence their business is over.

Rollersk8r said :

Not directly related – but I tried to buy a drink in an EMPTY NSW pub last year – and before I could even order the guy was yelling “THE KIDS CAN’T BE IN HERE!!”

I’ve never understood that one. Because drunk adults will trip over children? Because children will witness swearing and vulgar drunk behaviour? Because kids will randomly start chugging any unattended drinks?

A lot of venues simply aren’t licensed for it, and will generally get quite sh$tty about it. If they serve food, then generally they will have a license for children under supervision of parent/guardian in certain areas of the premises, but this is not guaranteed. You are right though, it is mostly nanny state rules, although some unsupervised kids will start randomly chugging unattended and some parents don’t care enough to properly supervise them, so some venues just don’t allow it altogether, one less potential legal liability for them.

Not directly related – but I tried to buy a drink in an EMPTY NSW pub last year – and before I could even order the guy was yelling “THE KIDS CAN’T BE IN HERE!!”

I’ve never understood that one. Because drunk adults will trip over children? Because children will witness swearing and vulgar drunk behaviour? Because kids will randomly start chugging any unattended drinks?

Probably the same silly rule that prevents you buying alcoholic drinks from under-18 checkout staff at Coles or Woolies. They might get pissed from handling the bottles.

Hmm that is odd. I worked for a while at a bottleshop in Queanbeyan. I would have asked you what the minors relation was to you, as soon as you said to me “he is my son” though, that would have been the end of it the way I was trained. That was NSW, but I have held RSA’s (and done the training to get them obv.) in VIC, NSW and the ACT.

She might have though he was an unrelated minor, there has been a recent crackdown on supply to minors and while you are still in the shop, they are legally liable for that. She should be aware though that as your son, you can get him to carry whatever you like. Heck I wouldn’t recommend it but technically he can help you pick out what to buy first even if you wanted to, don’t though, they will not like that.

So basically the first question asked should only be “what relation is this person to you”. If the answer is “my son/daughter/I am their legal guardian” then that’s the end of it. If the answer is anything else though, then there is a legal issue at play.

I’d suggest you call the Office of Regulatory Services and ask them – they look after all this.

Someone finally said it! I had a similar experience. And the lady was completely rude about it. I was so mad because both my hands were full and its not like she was going to come help me either. Completely ridiculous. I don’t understand this either.