Standard drink guidelines and preventing intoxication

People visiting a licensed venue to share a few drinks is generally a positive experience for both the venue, and customers. However excessive drinking can negatively impact someone’s health and behaviour putting themselves, other customers, and your venue at risk.

These guidelines help lower the risk of alcohol-related harm to help ensure a continued positive experience.

Standard drink and alcohol guidelines

A standard drink

A standard drink contains 10 grams of alcohol regardless of the size of the container (glass, bottle, can) or type of alcohol (beer, wine, spirit).

375ml can or bottle full-strength beer = 1.4 standard drinks
150ml wine = 1.4 standard drinks
30 ml spirits = 1 standard drink.

Daily drinking guidelines

For most healthy adults:

• More than four standard drinks on a single occasion increases risks of alcohol-related injury
• Limiting intake to two standard drinks a day may reduce the risk of alcohol-related disease or harm over a lifetime.

Preventing intoxication

Licensees have important legal and social obligations to ensure alcohol is served responsibly to help minimise alcohol-related harm.

Supporting responsible alcohol consumption and preventing intoxication lowers the risk of incidences and helps to promote a safe venue for customers, staff and the surrounding neighbourhood.

The NSW liquor laws state that you cannot sell and supply alcohol to intoxicated persons.

As a licensee, you must ensure to:

• serve alcohol responsibly to help minimise alcohol-related harm
• prevent intoxication from occurring on their premises
• provide a safe venue for patrons and staff.

Or else you can face:

• fines
• higher licence fees
• suspension or cancellation of a licence.

More information

• ​​GL4003 Intoxication guidelines PDF, 186.41 KB help you decide whether someone is intoxicated or not.
• ​GL4002 Prevention of intoxication on licensed premises guidelines PDF, 214.59 KB - provide practical steps for licensees to manage the risk of intoxication on their premises.