In recent media coverage of allegations High School age sexual assaults, many victims describe themselves as being “passed out”, “plastered” and “unconscious” from excess alcohol consumption. 

The accounts of these children reveal such inebriation that these high school students rendered themselves incapable of making safe decisions like providing or requesting consent to sexual encounters, withdrawing consent during sex or even registering their own conduct. Children who abuse alcohol are at risk of alcohol poisoning, falls, drowning accidents, violence, brain injury and many other health problems. School age children need to be taught that drinking yourself out of control and even out of consciousness can have devastating and regrettable consequences many years later and that personal accountability is key.

Section 117 of the Liquor Act 2007 states, “A person must not supply liquor to a minor on any premises…unless (a) the person is a parent or guardian OR is authorised to supply liquor to the minor by a parent or guardian of the minor, and (b) the supply is consistent with the responsible supervision of the minor”. The Act notes a Maximum 12-month imprisonment for illegal supply to a minor and details what constitutes “responsible supervision”.  So where did all this alcohol come from?

These media reports substantiate that parents have failed their supervision obligations and that current alcohol education programs have a lot more work to do. These high school children lacked safe and “responsible” adult supervision time and time again. These teen testimonies demonstrate disregard for their illegal, underage alcohol use and lack of any personal accountability despite the constant references to states of blind drunkenness.

I am petitioning the NSW Minister for Education, the Hon. Sarah Mitchell, NSW Secondary Principals’ Council, and Independent Schools Australia to collaborate with their State and Federal counterparts in the development and implementation of a structured program to educate high school students on the dangers of alcohol abuse, the illegal use of alcohol, the risks of consuming alcohol to “unconsciousness” and the importance of personal accountability. Such programs must include an education of parents on the Liquor Act 2007; requiring consent from other minor’s parents and “responsible supply”. I am appealing to parents of all genders of high school age children to commit to meaningful and active supervision of minors who may attempt to underage drink in social settings and to discuss the consequences of alcohol abuse with their teens.