With thousands of school-leavers set to fly to Bali, Fiji and Thailand over the next fortnight, the Australian Government on 18 November rolled out the next phase of its alcohol-awareness and travel-safety campaign, co-branded with industry group DrinkWise. The initiative features airport billboards, social-media videos and in-flight briefings on Jetstar services reminding teenagers to watch their drinks, look after friends and avoid methanol-tainted spirits overseas.
Research cited by DFAT shows only 18 percent of 2023-24 Schoolies travellers were alert to methanol poisoning despite two Australian deaths last year. Parents are urged to have pre-departure discussions: just 69 percent reported doing so in 2024, and barely half talked about communication plans while abroad. New ‘cheat-sheets’ on the Smartraveller Partying Safely hub cover destination-specific laws on under-age drinking, scooter rentals and travel insurance pitfalls.
![‘Drink Mindfully’: Government launches Schoolies travel-safety drive for young Australians]()
DFAT and DrinkWise teams will also staff booths at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane international terminals on 29 November—traditionally the peak departure day—to hand out water bottles and QR codes to safety resources. Airlines, travel agents and tour operators have been asked to reinforce the messaging in booking confirmations and welcome briefings.
For corporate mobility managers the campaign is a timely reminder: staff supervising graduate intakes or volunteering programs that coincide with Schoolies dates should factor in the elevated medical, legal and reputational risks of mixed-age travel groups. Travel insurers advise adding explicit alcohol-related exclusions and emergency-assistance hotlines to pre-trip briefings for interns and young contractors.
Research cited by DFAT shows only 18 percent of 2023-24 Schoolies travellers were alert to methanol poisoning despite two Australian deaths last year. Parents are urged to have pre-departure discussions: just 69 percent reported doing so in 2024, and barely half talked about communication plans while abroad. New ‘cheat-sheets’ on the Smartraveller Partying Safely hub cover destination-specific laws on under-age drinking, scooter rentals and travel insurance pitfalls.
DFAT and DrinkWise teams will also staff booths at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane international terminals on 29 November—traditionally the peak departure day—to hand out water bottles and QR codes to safety resources. Airlines, travel agents and tour operators have been asked to reinforce the messaging in booking confirmations and welcome briefings.
For corporate mobility managers the campaign is a timely reminder: staff supervising graduate intakes or volunteering programs that coincide with Schoolies dates should factor in the elevated medical, legal and reputational risks of mixed-age travel groups. Travel insurers advise adding explicit alcohol-related exclusions and emergency-assistance hotlines to pre-trip briefings for interns and young contractors.
