11Possession of liquor by minors

11 Possession of liquor by minors

11 Possession of liquor by minors

(1) A person under the age of 18 years is guilty of an offence if the person possesses or consumes any liquor in a public place, unless the person establishes that—

(a) the person was under the supervision of a responsible adult, or

(b) the person had a reasonable excuse for possessing or consuming the liquor.

Maximum penalty—$20.

(2) A police officer may seize liquor in the possession of a person in a public place, if the officer suspects, on reasonable grounds, that—

(a) the person is under the age of 18 years, and

(b) the person is not under the supervision of a responsible adult, and

(c) the person does not have a reasonable excuse for possessing the liquor.

(3) Liquor seized under this section is forfeited to the Crown.

(4) Liquor may be seized under this section from a person’s possession even though the person is under the age of criminal responsibility.

(5) A person may not be arrested for an offence under subsection (1), except so far as may be necessary for the purpose of the administration of a caution by a police officer in relation to such an offence.

(5A) A police officer who reasonably suspects that a person has committed an offence under subsection (1) may require that person—

(a) to state his or her full name and residential address, and

(b) to produce then, or at a police station within a reasonable time, documentary evidence that might reasonably be accepted as applying to the person and as proving that the person is at least 18 years of age.

(5B) A person the subject of a requirement under subsection (5A) must not—

(a) refuse to state his or her full name and residential address, or

(b) state a false name or residential address, or

(c) without reasonable excuse, refuse or fail to produce evidence of age as referred to in subsection (5A) (b).

Maximum penalty—$20.