Alcohol restrictions in Queensland communities
Mornington Island
You are not allowed to drink alcohol in a public place in Queensland, unless the area is an approved wet area.
Restricted area
The Mornington Island restricted area is the Mornington Shire including all public and private places. This includes all foreshores and the 23 islands in the Wellesley, South Wellesley, Forsythe and Bountiful Island groups and Sweers Island.
Sweers Island Resort is the only licensed premise in the restricted area of Mornington Island. The resort is licensed to sell alcohol to residents and their guests only.
Alcohol restrictions
From 6 October 2023, the maximum amount of alcohol that a person can have in the restricted area is:
- up to 11.25 litres (equivalent to 30 x 375ml cans) of any combination of beer and premixed spirits in which the concentration of alcohol is up to and including 4% alcohol/volume.
This amount is per person on foot, or per vehicle, boat or aircraft regardless of the number of people in it.
No homebrew or homebrew equipment is allowed in the restricted area.
Sly grog
It is illegal to sell alcohol without a licence or permit (sly grog) in Queensland. Penalties apply.
Phone the confidential Sly Grog Hotline on 1800 500 815 to report incidents of sly grog.
Penalties
Maximum penalties for possessing alcohol in the restricted area are:
- first offence 375 penalty units (currently $58,050)
- second offence 525 penalty units (currently $81,280) or 6 months imprisonment
- third or subsequent offence 750 penalty units (currently $116,100) or 18 months imprisonment.
Vehicles found carrying alcohol in the restricted area may be confiscated.
It is also an offence to attempt to bring alcohol into the restricted area. The maximum penalty for this offence is 375 penalty units (currently $58,050).
A maximum of 190 penalty units (currently $29,412) will apply to offenders who:
- possess a homebrew kit or a component of a homebrew kit
- possess equipment or a component of equipment that is being used or has been used to brew alcohol
- possess homebrew concentrate
- supply homemade alcohol to another person in the restricted area.
The maximum penalty for possessing alcohol in a dry place is 19 penalty units (currently $2,941).
These penalties apply to all people living in, travelling through, visiting or working in the restricted area.
The penalty unit from 1 July 2023 is $154.80.
In this guide:
- Aurukun
- Cherbourg
- Doomadgee
- Hope Vale
- Kowanyama
- Lockhart River
- Mapoon
- Mornington Island
- Napranum
- Northern Peninsula Area
- Palm Island
- Pormpuraaw
- Woorabinda
- Wujal Wujal
- Yarrabah