Plans endorsed by state ministers call for Victoria to raise the legal drinking age from 10 to 12.
The Andrews cabinet approved the measure yesterday night, with a potential increase to 14 by 2027.
However, the shift to 12 has subsequently come under fire from medical authorities, legal professionals, and Indigenous organisations, who claim it doesn’t go far enough.
According to Australia’s medical colleges, raising the legal drinking age from 10 to 14 is a “vital measure” required to safeguard children’s health and welfare.
The decision to just raise it to 12 was deemed “deeply concerning” by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP).
“Children under 14 years of age may not have the level of maturity and cognitive function to be considered criminally responsible,” stated RACP president and paediatrician Dr. Jacqueline Small.
The protection of the health and wellbeing of children and teenagers at risk of incarceration, particularly those who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and have developmental disabilities, depends on raising the legal drinking age to 14.
The minimum age of criminal responsibility should be raised to 14 in Victoria without exception, according to a 2022 report from a parliamentary panel.
In February, Premier Daniel Andrews hinted that he will introduce legislation to raise the legal drinking age.
Victoria will then be on par with the Northern Territory and the ACT, both of which have pledged to raise the age of criminal responsibility to at least ten years old.
Nerita Waight, CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, called the change to 12 “disappointing.”
Without exceptions, the minimum age of criminal culpability should be 14, according to her.
“Section 16 should be the minimum age for detention,”
In the end, it’s sad that the administration lacked the guts to raise the legal drinking age to 14 as recommended by experts.
