Responsible Service

Age Verification Information

Understanding why cork requires age verification and how we promote responsible alcohol consumption in accordance with Australian law and industry best practices.

Why We Require Age Verification

cork is an alcohol-related service that provides wine recommendations, analysis, and educational content. As such, we are required by Australian law to ensure that our users are of legal drinking age before accessing our platform.

Legal Requirement

The legal drinking age in Australia is 18 years. Any platform providing alcohol-related content, recommendations, or services must verify that users meet this age requirement.

Australian Legal Framework

Age verification for alcohol-related services is governed by several Australian laws and regulations:

Liquor Control Acts

Each Australian state and territory has liquor control legislation that prohibits the supply of alcohol or alcohol-related services to persons under 18 years of age.

Competition and Consumer Act 2010

Requires businesses to ensure their services comply with consumer protection laws, including age-appropriate service delivery.

Online Safety Act 2021

Establishes requirements for online platforms to protect minors from age-inappropriate content, including alcohol-related material.

Industry Best Practices

Beyond legal requirements, age verification aligns with industry standards for responsible service:

DrinkWise Australia

Promotes responsible drinking culture and supports age verification for all alcohol-related platforms to prevent underage access.

Australian Wine Industry

Wine Australia and industry bodies advocate for responsible marketing and age-appropriate access to wine information and services.

Digital Platform Standards

Leading alcohol-related platforms implement robust age verification to demonstrate commitment to responsible service and legal compliance.

Consumer Protection

Age verification protects minors from alcohol marketing and content that may influence underage drinking behaviours.

Our Commitment to Responsible Service

cork is committed to promoting responsible alcohol consumption and supporting Australian drinking guidelines:

  • Age Verification: Ensuring all users are 18+ before accessing our services
  • Educational Content: Providing information about responsible drinking practices
  • Moderation Messaging: Promoting wine appreciation within healthy consumption limits
  • No Excessive Consumption: Our recommendations focus on quality and enjoyment, not quantity
  • Australian Guidelines: Aligning with National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines
  • Community Standards: Supporting DrinkWise and responsible drinking initiatives
What Age Verification Involves

Our age verification process is designed to be simple while ensuring compliance:

During Registration

Users confirm their date of birth and certify they are 18 years or older. This information is stored securely and used only for age verification purposes.

Ongoing Compliance

Our platform includes age-appropriate content warnings and responsible drinking reminders throughout the user experience.

Privacy Protection

Age verification data is handled in accordance with Australian privacy laws and our comprehensive privacy policy.

Supporting Responsible Drinking

Age verification is just one part of our broader commitment to responsible alcohol service:

Educational Resources

  • • Wine appreciation and tasting techniques
  • • Understanding alcohol content and serving sizes
  • • Food pairing for enhanced enjoyment
  • • Australian drinking guidelines

Responsible Messaging

  • • Quality over quantity philosophy
  • • Drink driving prevention reminders
  • • Moderation and health considerations
  • • Links to support resources when needed
Additional Resources

For more information about responsible drinking and support resources:

DrinkWise Australia: drinkwise.org.au

Australian Guidelines: nhmrc.gov.au/health-advice/alcohol

Alcohol Support: 1800 250 015 (National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline)

Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support)

If you have questions about our age verification process or responsible service policies, please contact us through our support channels.