The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) advises that children and people under the age of 18 years of age should not drink alcohol to reduce the risk of harm from alcohol.
According to the NHS, drinking alcohol, even if a child is 15 or over, can have a harmful effect on the development of the brain, liver, bones and hormones. It can also encourage behavioral problems including violence, having more sexual partners, pregnancy and the use of drugs.
And - although not recommended - the CMOs also say if children do drink alcohol, it shouldn't be until at least 15 years of age. For teenagers that do drink – it's important to understand that alcohol has serious effects on their health and development.
In 2019, the average age at which Australians aged 14 years and older consumed their first serve of alcohol was 17 years. However, the average age at which 14-24 year olds consumed their first serve of alcohol was 16 years. Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Laws that apply anywhere in Australia
Legal drinking age – you must be 18 or older to buy alcohol or to drink alcohol in a licensed venue. Selling alcohol – it's illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under 18 or to someone who is already drunk.
Advice for parents:
If children do drink alcohol, they should not do so until they're at least 15 years old. If 15 to 17 year olds drink alcohol, it should be rarely, and never more than once a week. They should always be supervised by a parent or carer.
If you are under the age of 18 it is against the law to:
Drink alcohol on any licensed or regulated premises, e.g. pub, nightclub, tavern, restaurant, café, amusement parlour. Go to a pub, nightclub, or tavern unless you are with your parents or a responsible adult.
Which alcohol beverages do Australians usually drink? The alcohol beverages most commonly consumed by Australians are bottled wine (34%), regular strength beer (19%), and bottled spirits/liqueur (15%).
They may want to try alcohol but often do not fully recognize its effects on their health and behavior. Other reasons youth drink alcohol include: Peer pressure. Increased independence or the desire for it.
In fact, 64 percent of the world's nations have legal drinking ages of 18. The youngest legal drinking age in the world is 15, with both Mali and the Central African Republic allowing folks to drink at that time.
The National Poison Control Center phone number is 800-222-1222. Put this on speed dial on your phone. And also keep it posted in your home. Call Poison Control and 911 right away if you think your child has ingested alcohol.
Prevalence of Lifetime Drinking
According to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 13.4 million people ages 12 to 20 (34.4% in this age group) reported that they have had at least one drink in their lives. This includes: 6.4 million males ages 12 to 20(31.9% in this age group)
The risks and harms associated with drinking alcohol have been systematically evaluated over the years and are well documented.
Advice for Parents: Energy Drink Consumption
The bottom line is that children and adolescents should never consume energy drinks. And they should drink plain water during and after routine exercise, rather than sports drinks, which contain extra calories that contribute to obesity and tooth decay.
Generally, yes. Minors under the age of 21 can consume nonalcoholic beverages (even those that say “less than 0.5% ABV” which, technically, may contain some alcohol).
Life events such as transitioning from middle school to high school, breaking up with a significant other, moving, or divorce can cause children to turn to alcohol. If children grow up in an environment where their parents or peers drink a lot and/or view drinking favorably, they may be more likely to drink themselves.
In England, Scotland and Wales, it's not illegal for someone between the ages of five and 17 to drink alcohol at home or on other private premises. But this does not mean it is recommended. The best advice for young people's health and wellbeing is an alcohol-free childhood.
Here is a biblical framework for thinking through this topic. Contrary to what many Christians have grown up hearing, it is not a sin to drink alcohol. Scripture nowhere condemns or prohibits consuming moderate levels of alcohol.
Heavy drinking in Australia was a cultural norm since colonisation. For a period, convicts in Australia were partially paid with rum. The distribution of rum amongst the New South Wales Corps led to the only successful armed takeover of an Australian government, which later became known as the Rum Rebellion of 1808.
Approximately 40% of the population (aged 14 years and over) drink alcohol at least once per week, including 5% of the population who drink daily. Twenty-three percent of Australians do not drink alcohol at all.
In Australia, a standard drink is any alcoholic drink that contains 10 grams of pure alcohol. Many alcoholic drinks contain more than one 'standard drink'. The number of standard drinks in an alcoholic drink varies depending on the type of alcohol (e.g. beer, wine, spirit) and the size of the glass or container.
There is no law that says what age you can leave home.
You can leave home at any age providing you have a safe place to go to. If you leave home and are considered to be in physical or moral danger then the Police or Department of Child Protection & Family Services may become involved.
In Japan, the legal adult age is 20. Japanese law prohibits individuals under the age of 20 to drink alcohol or smoke. Regardless of age, you must not force anyone to drink or smoke as it may cause serious health and social consequences.
In many countries, including Australia, Serbia, India, Brazil, Croatia, Colombia, and the UK a minor is defined as a person under the age of 18.