December 9, 2024

When you are looking for adult entertainment, you are most likely to come across strip clubs at the top of any list. Strip clubs feature dancers who perform erotic dance routines for mostly for adult men. Some places offer the same experience for female audiences and you can definitely find a lot of those in Melbourne. There are also adult clubs that cater to specific tastes and fetishes. For all these establishments, there are laws and regulations they have to follow. These laws are based on licensing, nudity, and age restrictions.

In order to operate, strip clubs have to obtain specific licenses. These licenses include liquor licensing that allows them to serve alcohol, licensing to operate in the area. There is a lot that goes into running a strip club that a lot of people aren’t aware of. So, there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes.

The fact that there is nudity in a strip club brings an added layer for strip clubs that other adult entertainment venues do not have to contend with. Nudity might seem like a relative term these days but this does not mean that strip clubs can be lax about it and that is why age restrictions are so strictly enforced. Some strip clubs offer full nudity and others don’t. Some may insist that performers wear pasties or some skin-like cover but those are few and far in between.

Age limits

Age limits in strip clubs work both ways. They apply to the dancers who perform and also to the customers who come into these establishments to watch dancers perform. In Australia, the legal drinking age is 18 which means that establishments that serve alcohol cannot let anyone under the age of 18 enter the premises. Strip clubs can also not employ anyone under the age of 18.

Age restrictions are important. They protect young people from being exposed to things they should be exposed to at a young age. You can argue that this is counterintuitive because we already live in a world where nudity is everywhere. It is accessible to anyone who has a smartphone, a computer, and internet access and that is anyone over the age of 8 these days. Having said that, the state cannot simply capitulate to what is happening in the modern digital world, it is still up to the government to ensure that children and minors are protected.

Besides that, strip clubs aren’t dens of inequity out to corrupt everyone. A lot of them are actually quite responsible and careful to stay within the confines of the law. Strip clubs may not be bastions of morality but they are not out to corrupt, they are actually businesses that offer a lot of employment opportunities and they contribute to the local economy. Strip clubs are legitimate places of business and you will find that most of the clubs that operate in Melbourne are serious about their reputation and so much more. They will ask for ID from customers who look suspiciously young and require dancers who perform at the club to be older than 18 years. They know that if they do not comply with the laws they may encounter problems including the closure of the premises by the government if they are found to be contravening the laws of the state or territory.

Strip clubs might not look it but they are serious rule followers. So they will not allow minors into the club and they may also not allow underage performers. The official age restriction is 18 but some clubs go as far as insisting on 21 just to be on the safe side. The age restriction of 18 is applicable throughout Australia. It doesn’t only apply to strip clubs or adult entertainment venues but other entertainment businesses that serve alcohol. Restaurants will serve food to people of different ages but even they cannot serve alcohol to minors.