Parents and teens trying to organise birthday parties — particularly 18th celebrations — are being left out in the cold when it comes to finding a suitable venue in Ballarat.

The fear of gatecrashers coupled with stringent liquor laws has meant there are little or no alternatives for birthday party venues in the region.

Most community hall committees, sporting clubs and pub management are saying no to 18th birthdays due to the liquor laws and concerns of fights and property damage by alcohol-fuelled party patrons.

The popularity of social networking sites like Facebook, and mobile phone texting to advertise parties, has also heightened these fears by venue management.

And increasing problems of gatecrashers has meant that many Ballarat parents are also refusing to host teenage parties at home.

One Ballarat community hall manager said the venue committee voted several years ago not to allow teenage birthday parties at the facility.

“We had some trouble here a while ago, where windows were smashed and other property damaged at the hall during a 16th birthday party.

It was after that incident that we decided not to allow those sorts of parties,” he said.

Licensed venues like pubs and clubs are also reluctant to hold 18th birthday parties.

A Ballarat hotel owner said: “Any good licensee would be saying no to these parties. We work too hard to put our liquor licenses at risk, and hosting a teenage party would be doing just that.”

Youth resource officer with Ballarat Police, Leading Senior Constable Des Hudson said he wasn’t surprised by the reluctance of venue operators to host teenage parties.

“These people are just trying to protect their livelihoods by not having underage patrons on their premises or under-aged people consuming alcohol,” Leading Senior Constable Hudson said.

The Ballarat policeman gave the example of a recent Ballarat school social after-party when the guest list jumped from just 20 to 120 after it was promoted on Facebook. “This party got out of hand very quickly.