Alcohol use at social gatherings is ordinary in many cultures. Many people also gather for a drink after work to celebrate the work week. When consumed in moderation, alcohol can help a person relax. Excessive consumption, on the other hand, might significantly impair physical and mental capabilities. Intoxication with alcohol impairs vision, hearing, speech, logic, memory, balance, and coordination. Furthermore, reduced capacities raise the likelihood of car accidents or occupational fatalities. Younger people are more vulnerable; hence establishing a minimum legal age to drink in Australia is essential to protecting the public’s health and safety. Also, parents can check their children’s alcohol levels using a breathalyser like the highly-effective BACtrack breathalysers at Breathalysers Australia.
Alcohol is a psychoactive substance that influences mood, awareness, and behaviour by affecting brain functioning. As a result, many people use breathalysers to determine their alcohol level before driving. BACtrack devices from Breathalysers Australia keep people from exceeding the legal limit. Furthermore, alcohol sales and consumption in Australia are carefully regulated. The regulations are intended to reduce the detrimental effects of alcohol consumption on people, families, the workplace, and the general public. It covers drinking while driving and the legal age to drink in Australia.
Legal Age to Drink in Australia: The Alcohol Laws
Many social gatherings and events include alcohol drinking, and most alcoholic beverages are inexpensive and widely available. Specific regulations, however, restrict the use, purchase, or sale of alcohol, as well as its adverse effects. The most important aspect of alcohol regulations is the legal age to drink in Australia. Despite its ease of access, alcohol has several limitations. The following information discusses alcohol coverage and limitations in Australia:
- Legal drinking age: minimum age is 18 years old across all States and Territories in a licensed venue. Purchasing of alcohol also applies to 18 years old and above.
- Secondary supply law: the sale or supply of alcohol to minors varies by state and territory.
- Drink driving: Most drivers have an alcohol limit of 0.05% Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). Drivers with a learner’s permit, alcohol deterrent program, or temporary license must have zero BAC level.
- Selling alcohol: It is prohibited to sell alcohol to anyone under the age of 18 or to someone who is intoxicated.
- Labelling: Every packaged alcohol must indicate the number of standard drinks it contains.
Legal Age to Drink in Australia: Secondary Supply Law
The legal age to drink in Australia is the same nationwide. However, the sale of alcohol to minors varies by state and territory. The secondary supply is a term to describe adults providing alcoholic beverages to those under 18. In some states, supplying alcohol is lawful if you get permission from a parent or guardian. In other places, it is only permissible if you are the parent or guardian. As a result, parents and adults must be aware of these rules, especially when holding a party at home with kids. Using BACtrack breathalysers can help determine and monitor their children’s alcohol consumption. Furthermore, if you are under the age of 18, you may be permitted to consume alcohol under the following conditions:
- Supervised by a parent, guardian, or other responsible adults
- Consumption of alcohol with meals
- The individual supplying the drink is not inebriated
- You are a resident of the licensed area
- You are completing an approved hospitality training program
- The quantity of alcohol provided over time
Alcohol-Related Dangers to Minors
It is vital to know the legal age to drink in Australia. It is because alcohol consumption can alter the brain processes in teenagers up to 25 years old. The hazards include brain areas related to attention, memory, and decision-making abilities. Consuming alcohol while these areas are still growing may raise the risk of memory problems, learning difficulties, mental health issues and dependence. The sooner and more frequently a young person begins drinking, the more likely the person will have alcohol dependency later in life. Young people who drink alcohol are more prone to drink excessively and take risks that can lead to injury, alcohol poisoning, and death. Parents can test their children using a breathalyser, like BACtrack devices from Breathalysers Australia, to identify and keep track of their children’s alcohol consumption.
Alcohol and Drink Driving
One of the leading causes of car accidents is intoxication. Any amount of alcohol is known to impair perceptual and motor capabilities, negatively impacting driving. If you are under the legal age to drink in Australia and have a learner’s permit or probationary license, you must keep your BAC at zero. You may face fines and disqualification if you have a positive BAC at a police roadside screening. The usual alcohol limit for most adults, on the other hand, is 0.05 per cent BAC. It causes distorted vision, decreased judgment, sluggish reaction time, and lack of motor coordination at this level. A high alcohol percentage is involved in many traffic accidents. Therefore, driving while intoxicated carries significant penalties such as fines, prison time, and license suspension. Repeat offenders must also participate in an alcohol interlock program.
Getting a drink-driving charge can be difficult and time-consuming. The easiest way to avoid accidents or legal issues is to avoid alcohol, especially if you are under the legal age to drink in Australia. Alternatively, many people use a breathalyser like BACtrack devices to determine their BAC level. A breathalyser is a portable device that detects the presence of alcohol in the blood. By supplying an acceptable breath sample, you can determine your exact BAC or level of “drunkenness” in seconds. Using breathalysers effectively keeps people under the legal limit and averts accidents.
Uses of Breathalysers
Many people who drink alcohol use a breathalyser to keep track of their consumption. It assists them in staying inside the legal limit and avoiding DUI charges. Furthermore, some workplaces with an alcohol program have a zero-tolerance policy for drinking. Companies administer breath tests to employees to ensure their sobriety. As a result, many workers utilise a personal breath tester to track the drop in their BAC. Another primary application for pocket breathalysers is for parents to determine whether or not their children have consumed alcohol. In Australia, households with minors can benefit from using an alcohol screening device. Likewise, authorities in Australia utilise a breathalyser to assess the BAC of those under the legal age to drink in Australia.
Personal alcohol testers are available from Breathalysers Australia. The BACtrack breathalysers are incredibly portable and straightforward, making them ideal for on-the-go breath testing. BACtrack, for instance, provides a one-button function for ease of use. To begin alcohol breath testing, you only need to press the power button. Furthermore, the various devices available at Breathalysers Australia cater to every requirement and budget. Finally, using a breathalyser to check alcohol for people under the legal age to drink in Australia can be more efficient. It reduces the hazards connected with alcohol and helps to discourage its usage.