Law and penalities
Law and penalties
The sale of alcohol in New Zealand is governed by the Sale of Liquor Act 1989. The act covers things like how old someone must be to buy alcohol, where and when it can be bought, and who can sell it. It also covers 'host responsibility' – rules about selling alcohol responsibly and ensuring people drink safely.
New Zealand does not have a legal 'drinking age', for alcohol. Instead, we have a legal ‘purchasing age’. A person must be at least 18-years-old to buy alcohol, although someone who is younger than 18 can have alcohol supplied to them by their parent or legal guardian.
People under 18 can drink alcohol on some licensed premises when supervised by their parent or legal guardian. These include licensed restaurants, bars and pubs with supervised areas for under 18s and their parents or guardians .
It is illegal to allow someone to become intoxicated (drunk) at a licensed premise or to sell alcohol to an intoxicated person.
Penalties for contravening the Sale of Liquor Act include:
| FOR INDIVIDUALS | |
| Offence | Penalty |
| Under 18 buying alcohol | Fine of up to $200 |
| Under 18 illegally being in licensed premises | Fine of up to $2000 |
| Under 18 drinking in a public place or possesing alcohol in a public place (without parent or legal guadian) | Fine of up to $300 |
| Buying or acquiring alcohol from a licensed premise with the purpose of supplying it to someone under 18 years old | Fine of up to $2000 |
| Using fake identification or someone else's identification | There are heavy penalities for committing fraud |
| FOR PREMISES | |
| Offence | Penalty |
| Supplying liquor to underage person |
Fine up to $10,000 for permise, suspension of license up to 7 days Fine of up to $10,000 for manager Fine of up to $2000 for staff |
| Allowing an underage person on to licensed premises (without legal exemptions) | Fine of up to $2000 for manager or licensee |
| Allowing person to become intoxicated or supplying liquor to an intoxicated person |
Fine of up to $10,000 for licensee or manager Fine of up to $2000 for staff |
In addition to the Sale of Liquor Act, there are local bylaws such as liquor bans that govern where and when people can drink. For example, drinking alcohol is prohibited in some public parks or inner city areas at certain times. Visit the website of your local council to find out what restrictions apply.
