Local licensees have banded together to target underage drinking in venues.
Photo by
Ryan Bellingham
With fake IDs becoming more sophisticated, a group of licensees have banded together and launched a campaign to curb underage drinking in venues.
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The movement is being led by the Campaspe Liquor Accord with the backing of Victoria Police and Liquor Control Victoria.
Co-chaired by Caledonian Hotel director David Cunningham and Campaspe Police Service Area Inspector Brett Sampson, the accord meets regularly to discuss local issues and for educational purposes.
Echuca Workers director Erin Langman is an accord member, and said the campaign was in response to a common problem.
“I think we all have had issues with fake IDs, and they are quite good quality,” she said.
“It’s a focus for us now, and it’s an issue. We don’t want them in our venues.”
Not only are physical counterfeit licences becoming more convincing, but the prevalence of forged digital identification on smartphones is also growing.
“The kids have already caught up on that,” Mr Cunningham said.
“There’s fakes that are going through on the phone, and trying to identify which is fake and not fake ― it’s a challenge.”
With both Victoria and NSW having introduced digital drivers licences in recent years, venue managers, staff and security workers have had to become more wary.
While physical fake IDs can be confiscated in most cases, a venue does not have the power to seize someone’s phone, making the issue harder to avoid.
In a bid to prevent underage drinking and fake ID use, anyone caught doing either will be banned from venues in the Campaspe Liquor Accord for three months past their 18th birthday.
The accord now has 28 members across Campaspe Shire, including licensed venues, alcohol retailers and sporting clubs.
“Underage drinking and fake IDs are such huge issues for all of us, and that’s why this was developed,” Ms Langman said.
“We want to make an example out of a couple of people, so the message gets out there that we’re not a toothless target.”
The group plans to focus on different issues in the future with fresh campaigns, and works with police to enforce its regulations.
At the group’s most recent meeting on Tuesday, November 11, Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell was invited as a guest speaker.
Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell took questions from accord members.
Photo by
Ryan Bellingham
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