Crackdown on bottle shops selling alcohol to underage drinkers

BOTTLE shops selling booze to children will be targeted today in a bid to stem the alcohol flow to underage drinkers before New Year’s Eve celebrations.

BOTTLE shops selling booze to children will be targeted today in a bid to stem the alcohol flow to underage drinkers before New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Liquor store owners are being warned they face fines of thousands of dollars if they sell to underage customers. Police and inspectors from the Victorian Commission for Gaming and Liquor Regulation will make surprise visits to scores of outlets across Victoria in the lead-up to the big night. They will be target high-risk areas, including inner-city stores and liquor outlets in major regional centres. Officers will be on the lookout for people selling to minors, staff who serve drunk people at pubs and bars, parents buying for their children and venues exceeding their patron limit. Gaming and Liquor Regulation Minister Jane Garrett warned no one should be supplying alcohol to kids. “Giving alcohol to young people is not only reckless and dangerous, it is also illegal,’’ she said. “Over the New Year’s break, inspectors will be cracking down on bottle shops and liquor stores found to be doing the wrong thing. “We want everyone to enjoy the festivities and that means making sure our young people see in the New Year safely. “Parents, older siblings and friends need to be responsible. Buying alcohol for a minor might just be the most expensive drink you ever buy.” The operation will continue at liquor outlets and music festivals on New Year’s Day. Anyone caught supplying liquor to minors or an intoxicated person can face fines of up to $18,200.