Planning for teenage parties
What are your responsibilities as the host?
What are the laws about teenagers or young adults drinking alcohol at a party?
Should alcohol be allowed at the party?
Checklist for hosting a teenage party
Read our fact sheet 'Hosting teenage parties'
For young people, parties are a part of growing up and experiencing new ways of relating in a social environment. Unfortunately parties and young people can sometimes be a risky combination, particularly when alcohol and other drugs are involved.
Read a scenario about planning a birthday party for a young person.
What are your responsibilities as the host?
As the parent of a young person having a party, you are legally considered to be the host of the party. This means you will need to find out about the laws in your state covering young people and alcohol and other drugs, noise levels and providing a safe environment.
Your community legal service or local council office may also be able to tell you about any local laws or regulations.
You should also find out about the insurance of your home or hired party venue.
Local police are now actively involved in 'Partysafe' programs and provide information, advice and general tips regarding safe partying. Read more about the Victoria Police Partysafe program.
Providing a safe environment
As the parent and host you need to do all that you can to make the party safe.
If anything goes wrong at the party, or even after the party, and you have not taken care to prevent this, you could be held responsible. Even if no laws have been broken you could still be sued.
Some of the risks involved in hosting a teenage party:
- Guests may drink too much alcohol, or use drugs, making it unsafe for them to do ordinary activities such as crossing a road or swimming.
- Guests may drive their cars after having consumed alcohol or drugs.
- There could be situations involving violence or sexual harassment, causing injury or property damage.
If any of these situations occur, and the parent of a young guest can show that you did not take reasonable steps to avoid the risk, they could hold you responsible.
Read a fact sheet about the dangers of binge drinking.
What are the laws about teenagers or young adults drinking alcohol at a party?
In Australia there are laws about alcohol and people aged less than 18 years. These vary in each state and territory and depend on where your party is held.
In Victoria the law says that young people cannot drink, buy or possess alcohol until they are 18 years old, unless:
- they are in a private home—their own house, although recently the Victorian Government introduced legislation that makes it an offence for a person to supply alcohol to someone who is aged under 18 on private property without parental consent. Find out more about secondary supply laws.
- they are in a hotel or restaurant and they are having a meal with their parents, guardian or spouse (who is 18 or older).
They can only go into licensed premises, such as a pub or club that sells alcohol, if they are with their parents, guardian or spouse (who is 18 or older) and they are having a meal there or are staying the night.
The police can take alcohol away from a person if they are under 18 and they think it is illegal for them to have it.
Consumption of alcohol is banned in public places in the Central Business District (Melbourne) 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. (Source: Victoria Legal Aid)
Visit the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) website to download a fact sheet on 'Alcohol, teenage parties and the law'.
Download a fact sheet about the dangers of adults supplying young people with alcohol
Should alcohol be allowed at the party?
While not allowing alcohol at the party may lead to conflict between you and your teenager, you may want to make the party alcohol and drug free to reduce the likelihood of problems.
If the party is going to be held in your own home and you already have a family agreement or policy about alcohol, smoking and other drugs in the home, this could help you come to a decision.
Possibilities for the party could include:
- an alcohol-free party
- smoking only allowed outside, not indoors
- a themed party with organised activities
- alcohol allowed, provided you are at the party—depending on the laws in your state or territory.
No alcohol. This is a valid choice and can be a success. Theme parties with organised activities are a fun way to celebrate without alcohol.
When parents plan parties for teenagers or young adults, the biggest mistake is assuming their children are adults and do not need the structure of planned activities.
Alcohol allowed. If you decide to allow alcohol you will need to be aware of secondary supply laws that exist in a number of states in Australia. These laws make it an offence for a person to supply alcohol to someone who is aged under 18 on private property without parental consent. Find out more about secondary supply laws.
To minimise the risks that come with hosting a party involving alcohol, serve the liquor yourself (or get help from other adults). As the 'bartender' and 'server', you will be able to keep an eye on anyone who seems to be having trouble or getting out of hand.
You could make it a stipulation that any alcohol brought to the party must be handed over at the door, along with the car keys of those who plan to drink.
Stop serving alcoholic drinks an hour or two before the designated end of the party.
You are responsible for informing the parents of other teenagers attending the party, when alcohol is involved. Parents may object to their children attending, or may want reassurance that the party will be properly supervised. Details such as starting and finishing times will also be appreciated. Some may even offer to help.
Read our fact sheet 'Hosting teenage parties' for more information and a handy checklist for planning your party.
Return to 'How can I prevent alcohol and/or other drug use and harm?'
Last updated: 22 March 2013
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