Young people, their peers and parents should be aware of a new law that cracks down on in-appropriate supply of alcohol to people under the age of 18, says Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull.

“It will be launched with an extensive education campaign, which explains this new law could see adults who supply alcohol to minors in a private residence without parental consent slapped with a hefty $7000 fine.

“The campaign, which is an initiative between the Victorian Government, VicHealth and the Australian Drug Foundation, goes to the heart of the issue of why supplying alcohol to young people can cause harm.

“I have been to private functions myself in the past where 15 and 16 year olds are being served large amounts of alcohol and have clearly been affected and it is just crazy. I am extremely supportive of this new law,” he said.

“Previous laws on the supply of alcohol to minors did not apply to private residences, which on occasion resulted in irresponsible adults supplying significant amounts of alcohol to minors without their parents’ knowledge.

“Parents need to think twice if they want to host a party where underage people are attending and serve them alcohol without the consent of those children’s parents. It is quite clear – no permission – no grog.

“Many parents also receive pressure from their children to host underage parties and this gives them the support to say no,” Mr Bull said.

Mental Health Minister, Mary Wooldridge, said the education and awareness campaign will feature advertisements in newspapers, at bus and tram stops and online, as well as a comprehensive new website featuring webinars, podcasts and community forums.

“I am very proud we are combining the introduction of new laws with an education campaign that is significant in terms of getting these messages across and working to change outcomes in relation to young people engaging in risky drinking behaviour,” Ms Wooldridge said

Ms Wooldridge said the new law puts control back into the hands of parents.

“We aren’t seeking to limit decisions parents make in relation to their children, but we are seeking to limit the decisions that other people make in relation to children who are not their own.”

Mr Bull said there are many good reasons to encourage teenagers not to drink alcohol before turning 18.

“Early drinking is related to increased alcohol consumption in adolescence and young adulthood, which can possibly lead to damage to the developing brain and other alcohol-related harms in adulthood,” he said.

Acting CEO of VicHealth, Associate Professor John Fitzgerald, commended the Victorian Government’s decision to take action to reduce risky drinking among Victoria’s young people.

“Alcohol consumption is one of the biggest social issues facing Victoria’s young people,” Associate Professor Fitzgerald said.

Chief Executive of the Australian Drug Foundation, Mr John Rogerson, also welcomed the new laws as a positive preventive health measure that enables parents to have much more influence over their child’s drinking.

One third of all Victorian secondary students are binge drinking each week and that puts them at risk of short term harms, such as injury or sexual assault. This new law will help prevent those harms.

For more information about the new law or to request an education pack on the secondary supply of alcohol, which includes guidance for parents to assist with reducing adolescent alcohol use, visit www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/teendrinkinglaw