| Unlicensed FAQs

Here you'll find answers to some of the questions we hear most often when it comes to serving alcohol in unlicensed places.

Also see the Sale of Liquor section for FAQs.

I am having a party for my daughter/son, who is under age; can I serve alcohol at the party?
Yes but ALAC would advise you to consider this very carefully. In general terms we would advise that if you are considering this then it would be sensible to inform the parents of the invited guests of your intentions - many parents have been annoyed to find that their son/daughter has been served alcohol by another adult.

The Sale of Liquor Act allows alcohol to be served to young people at a private party.

Under the Sale of Liquor Act, generally, if you are under 18, only your parent or legal guardian can buy or supply you with alcohol. The only exception in the legislation is for a 'private social gathering'. Exactly what this means is not defined in the legislation so is open to different interpretations. As a general rule the people coming need a personal invitation, and no money can change hands i.e. if anyone can come then it isn't a private social gathering and alcohol cannot be sold at the event or included in the ticket price.

It is important to note that anyone who sells alcohol can be prosecuted if it can be shown that they knew it was going to be illegally supplied to someone under 18.