Recent changes to legislation passed by NSW Parliament, and that will come into effect very soon, mean unaccompanied minors can no longer enter or remain in a bottle shop unless they are with a responsible adult, or the licensee has applied for and been granted an exemption.
Where an unaccompnied minor can currently enter a bottle shop alone, and even purchase a soft drink or a packet of chips, that will no longer be allowed.
That means staff will no longer be able to wait for someone to approach the counter with a purchase to check for ID. The moment someone you suspect may be under 18 years of age, who is not in the company of a responsible adult, enters the shop, they should be asked for ID.
If they cannot establish they are at least 18 years of age, they must be asked to leave the premises. If they refuse, Police should be called without delay.
