Major changes to the ACT Liquor Ordinance were being prioritised on this day in 1987.
The changes would allow police significantly more power when dealing with underage drinkers.
Advertisement
The Minister of Justice had given the amendments of the ordinance high priority in the hopes that it would be in place before the year's school holidays.
Once the changes came into effect, it would be an offence for a minor to possess alcohol in public, as well as an offence for anyone to sell or supply liquor to minor.
In the previous ordinance it was only an offence if a licensee were to do so.
Police would also gain the power to demand a suspected underage drinker's name, age, and address, and could then either take them home themselves or request that their parents pick them up.
The first apprehension of an underage drinker would only result in a warning, but if a second apprehension were to be made within a certain timeframe, it would result in a charge.
A spokesman for the ACT Administration noted that while legal measures were being introduced in attempts to mitigate underage drinking, parents would also have to recognise their responsibilities as well.
