Experts are happy with the Victorian Government’s strict attitude towards under-age drinking. The Baillieu Government will introduce legislation into Parliament this week, providing for $7,000 fines for adults who give alcohol to children without parental permission.
According to Mental Health Minister Mary Wooldridge heavy drinking habits can cause serious harm to children's developing brains. “In 25 to 30 per cent of all cases, [it] was from an adult in a home, or from an older sibling or an older friend, someone who would be affected by these laws…We think at least a quarter of all alcohol supplied to minors would now come under the secondary supply law,” she said. “We wanted to send a very clear signal that the supply of alcohol to minors without permission from a parent or guardian is illegal, and therefore it attracts the same level of fines as if the alcohol were provided in a licensed premises…This is not looking through people's lounge room windows for a glass of wine with a son's friend who has come over for dinner…But where children have been placed at risk as a result of alcohol, this gives the ability for the police to investigate and follow up,” she explained.
The Australian Drug Foundation's director of policy, Geoff Munro, says the legislation will encourage parents to reconsider their actions. “We’ve already had one death in Victoria in these circumstances…One death is too many and this legislation is important as it will educate the community about appropriate behaviour,” he said in his statement.
Youth professionals are hopeful that the laws will generate discussions about under-age binge drinking. The Youth Substance Abuse Service’s David Murray says the legislation will protect adolescents’ developing brains from harm. “Young people tend to have learnt their drinking behavior from adults…If we’re going to expect young people to change their attitudes, we really need to focus on adults as a first port of call,” Murray said.
Adolescent psychologist Michael Carr-Greg said the cultural change would ease social pressure placed on parents to allow underage drinking. “This is going to be a very useful reminder for parents across Victoria that alcohol interferes with the development of the teenage brain and that alcohol and kids don't mix,” he said.
The State Government also will launch a big education campaign in its crackdown on harmful under-age drinking.
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