asked the Minister for Justice what is the statutory age limit below which persons may not be served alcohol with a meal for consumption on a licensed premises; how strictly this law is enforced; and how many prosecutions were brought under this Act in the past two years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Serving of Alcohol.
58.
It is an offence for the holder of an intoxicating liquor licence knowingly to supply or allow any person to supply intoxicating liquor to a person under 18 for consumption by that person on the premises. The fact that the liquor is to be consumed with a meal is immaterial.
Separate statistics of prosecutions for this offence are not kept, but it can be taken that few prosecutions are brought. Clear-cut cases rarely come to notice.
Complaints are made from time to time, mainly in Dublin, that liquor has been served to young persons in particular premises and they are investigated by the Gardaí, but almost invariably the circumstances prove to be such that the licence holder obviously merits no more than a caution.
The Gardaí in Dublin have been specially instructed to pay attention to the serving of liquor to persons under age, and licence holders, particularly those whose premises are situated near dance halls, are warned from time to time of their obligations under the law in this regard.
Is it not a fact that the Garda never visit licensed premises in opening hours but after hours and, therefore, would not be in a position to know whether or not alcohol was being served to persons under 18 years of age? One person under age is charged with murder as a result of having been served with alcohol. We should have a more strict enforcement of the law in this regard. It is not sufficient to say we do not have many prosecutions.
I can only repeat that the Gardaí had been specially instructed to pay attention to this particular matter, and also licence holders who operate near dancehalls have been warned of their obligations and duties in this connection. Sometimes it is very difficult to decide whether a person is under 18 or over 18. A young person will frequently hold himself out to be 18 or over when he may not be.
Would it be possible to state how many prosecutions were brought in one year?
Would the Minister state if it is a fact that persons under 18 are not supposed to enter dancehalls.
We are not talking about dancehalls but about licenced premises.
The Minister mentioned dancehalls.
I mentioned the holders of publicans' licences situated near dancehalls.
Would it be possible to get the figures for prosecutions?
If the Deputy puts down a question.
I have the question down here.
I have already told the Deputy that separate statistics for these prosecutions are not kept.