Alcohol
- People under the age of 18 are not permitted to consume alcohol in public. If you buy alcohol, or are given it at a licensed premise, both you and the person selling are committing an offence.
- Some public areas are designated ‘Dry Zones’. This means drinking is not permitted in these areas other than inside licensed establishments such as pubs or hotels.
- There are heavy penalties for people who ‘drink and drive’. The legal alcohol limit in South Australia is 0.05.
Drugs
There are severe penalties for illegal drug use or dealing drugs. Avoid being in any situation where illegal drugs are involved.
Smoking
It is an offence to lend, give or sell cigarettes or tobacco to anyone under 18 years of age. It is also illegal to buy cigarettes or tobacco for anyone under the age of 18. It is illegal to smoke in enclosed public areas.
Gambling
Young people under the age of 18 are not permitted to gamble. If you are under 18 you cannot enter gambling places, such as the casino or gaming areas in pubs.
Nightclubs and entertainment venues
Anyone under the age of 18 is not allowed in a licensed entertainment venue after 9pm. You may need to provide proof of age to buy alcohol or enter a licensed venue. It is an offence to provide false identification.
Stealing, vandalism
There are severe penalties for anyone involved in stealing, shoplifting or damaging public or private property. Penalties will vary depending on the severity of the crime.
Harassment and discrimination
Adelaide prides itself on being a multicultural and tolerant society. In Australia it is generally illegal to discriminate against anyone based on gender, sexuality, marital status, pregnancy, race, physical or intellectual impairment or age. Most educational institutions and many work places now have anti-discrimination policies in place.
