SAFE PARTYING

As a parent, there comes a point when your child begins to spend more time in social settings that you can’t fully control – parties, gatherings, and time with peers. 

For many parents, this brings a mix of pride and anxiety. You want your child to enjoy their adolescence, build friendships, and feel a sense of belonging – but most of all you want them to be safe. 

This is where parenting shifts. 

Your role moves from protecting your child from every risk to helping them navigate risk safely and responsibly. 

Teenage parties are a normal part of development, they support social connection, identity formation, and belonging. But they also bring risks, particularly around alcohol, peer influence, and decision-making. 

The aim isn’t to eliminate all risk, that’s unrealistic. The aim is to prepare young people, reduce harm, and maintain strong, protective relationships. 

Adolescents are still developing critical skills in impulse control and decision-making. Alcohol further reduces judgment, increasing the risk of injury, unsafe behaviour, and poor decisions.  

At the same time, we know that strong parental connection and clear expectations significantly reduce risk-taking behaviour.  

This is where parents remain incredibly influential. 

Understanding Tasmanian Law (What Parents Need to Know) 

Before discussing safety strategies, it’s essential to understand the legal responsibilities around alcohol in Tasmania – especially when hosting or allowing attendance at parties. 

Key Legal Principles (Tasmania) 

1. It is illegal to supply alcohol to under 18s without proper authority. Under the Police Offences Act 1935: 

• You must not supply alcohol to a person under 18 at a private residence unless you are a “responsible adult” (e.g. parent, guardian, or authorised adult). [www5.austlii.edu.au] 
• Significant penalties apply — including fines or up to 12 months imprisonment. [www5.austlii.edu.au] 

2. “Responsible supervision” is legally required
   

Even if you are the responsible adult, you must: 

• Actively supervise drinking 
• Ensure the young person does not become intoxicated 
• Consider age, quantity, type of alcohol and timing 
• Provide food and monitor safety  

Failure to meet these conditions can still result in penalties. 

3. You need parental permission for other teenagers.
   

If you are hosting a party where alcohol may be present:

• You must have permission from each young person’s parent/guardian before any alcohol is supplied to them [police.tas.gov.au] 

1. You have a duty of care as the host.
   

Tasmanian guidance is clear:

• You are responsible for supervising young people 
• You must ensure their safety and prevent intoxication 
• You can be held accountable for harm that occurs  

5. Strict laws apply everywhere else

• It is illegal to sell or supply alcohol to under 18s in licensed venues  
• It is illegal for under 18s to buy alcohol  

 Many parents assume that allowing alcohol at home is the “safer option.” Legally, and developmentally, this is not straightforward and carries responsibility and risk. 

 The Safe Party Protocol  

1. Start with connection, not control.
   

Teens are more likely to follow rules when they feel respected and understood.Have regular conversations about:

• Peer pressure 
• Alcohol expectations 
• What to do if things go wrong 

Teens who communicate openly with parents are less likely to engage in risky behaviours.  

2. Know the party environment

Before your child attends: 

• Who is hosting? 
• Will adults be present? 
• Will alcohol be allowed? 

Contacting another parent is not overprotective, it is smart safeguarding.  

3. Always have a plan

Ensure your teen has: 

• A safe way to get home 
• A clear finish time 
• A group of trusted friends 

Make it non-negotiable that they: 

• Never get into a car with someone who has been drinking 
• Contact you if they feel unsafe 

4. Use the “no-questions-asked pickup” rule

This is one of the most powerful protective strategies. If your child knows: “I can call home and I won’t get in trouble” , they are far more likely to remove themselves from unsafe situations. 

5. Encourage group responsibility

Teach your child to: 

• Stay with friends 
• Look out for others 
• Call for help if someone is unwell 

Peer protection is one of the strongest safety factors at parties. 

6. Set clear expectations about alcohol

Research consistently shows: 

• Early alcohol use increases long-term risks 
• Parental boundaries reduce consumption 

Teenagers actually expect and value clear limits, even if they don’t always show it. 

7. Prepare them for real-world scenarios (harm minimisation)

Even if your expectation is no alcohol, equip them with: 

• Refusal strategies 
• Awareness of drink safety 
• Confidence to leave situations 

Preparation is not permission,  it is protection. 

 The Bigger Picture: Relationships Keep Teens Safe 

What protects teenagers most is not rules alone. It is: 

• Feeling connected to their parents 
• Knowing the boundaries 
• Trusting they can ask for help 

When those foundations are strong, young people are more likely to make safe choices, even when you are not there. 

A final message to Parents – You don’t need to control every situation. You need to: 

• Stay connected 
• Set clear expectations 
• Understand the law 
• Equip your child with practical skills 

And most importantly: make sure they always know they can come home safely — no matter what. 

Kylie Wolstencroft
Director of Wellbeing – Penquite