The Australian Government has produced guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines provide health professionals, policy makers and the Australian community with evidence-based advice on the health effects of drinking alcohol. They also help people make informed decisions about how much alcohol they drink, if any.

Importantly, the NHMRC recommends not drinking as the safest option for anyone under 18-years.

NHMRC guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol³⁰

Guideline 1: Reducing the risk of alcohol-related harm for adults

To reduce the risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury, healthy men and women should drink no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day. The less you drink, the lower your risk of harm from alcohol.

Guideline 2: Children and people under 18 years of age

To reduce the risk of injury and other harms to health, children and people under 18 years of age should not drink alcohol.

Guideline 3: Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding

• To prevent harm from alcohol to their unborn child, women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy should not drink alcohol
• For women who are breastfeeding, not drinking alcohol is safest for their baby.

Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol.

Alcohol laws in Australia

Alcohol laws help to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol on individuals, families and communities. Some laws, such as the legal drinking age, are the same across Australia. Other laws, such as where you can drink, are different in each state and territory.

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.
• Drink driving – you’re breaking the law if you drive and your blood alcohol concentration is equal to or more than 0.05. If you’re on a learner or provisional licence, your BAC must be zero.
• Selling alcohol – it’s illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under 18 or to someone who is already drunk.
• Labelling – all packaged alcohol must show how many standard drinks it contains.

Alcohol laws in Australia

Laws that are different in each state and territory

Some alcohol laws are different depending on the state or territory you’re in.

• Secondary supply – Secondary supply means the supply of alcohol to young people under 18. In some states and territories, it’s legal to supply alcohol if you have approval from a child’s parent or guardian. In others, it’s only legal if you’re the parent or guardian.
• Where you can drink – The laws on alcohol restrictions are different for each state and territory.

Alcohol laws in each state and territory:

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia.