asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware of the increasing incidence of alcoholic drinking among young people; and whether he proposes to introduce any new measures to ensure that persons under 18 years of age will not be served with such drink.
Ceisteann—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teenage Drinking.
15.
This whole subject is receiving very close attention. The report recently made to the Minister for Health by the Irish National Council on Alcoholism is being studied at present in several Departments, including mine. The report deals, among other things, with the availability of drink to young persons and makes various recommendations in relation thereto.
Would it be possible for the Minister to indicate whether any summonses have issued to teenagers who would have been guilty of the offence in respect, say, of the past year?
I am sorry. I cannot help the Deputy because I have not got that information. I do not know what prosecutions have been taken by the Garda in relation to that type of offence. Normally I would not have that information.
Would the Minister agree that, as of now, the existing legislation is not very useful in the matter of the offence referred to?
I presume the offence the Deputy refers to is the offence of selling drink to under-age persons. The law on this is quite clear at the moment. It is an offence to sell alcohol for consumption on or off the premises to persons under 18 years. In any cases where offences can be detected, and the necessary proofs become available, prosecutions ensue.
In his review of this matter will the Minister consider the introduction of regulations to prohibit open floor sales of alcoholic drink in supermarkets where they are most frequently availed of by under-age persons?
I take the Deputy's point. This point was made in the report referred to and it will be part of the review being carried out in my Department to have regard in the words of the report to the variety and overall growth in the number of outlets for the sale of intoxicating drink.
In the review going on in the Minister's Department will he consult with the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs with a view to banning the advertising of alcoholic beverages on TV? Nobody can describe that as anything other than seductive advertising for the youth of our country.
I think that would be a matter for the Minister for Health.
Since the Minister's Department is carrying out the review of the problem——
In my reply I stated that a review is going on in several Departments. The review in my Department will be chiefly concerned with the proposals in the report dealing with the law concerning the sale of drink.
Surely the advertising of drink is as relevant as the sale of drink. Will the Minister consult with his colleague, the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, with a view to having this type of advertising banned?
That is not relevant at this time.
In carrying out this review will the Minister have the utmost sympathy for publicans who find it very hard to distinguish between 18-year-olds and others? This is a very difficult task for them, and they are being condemned although it is not their fault.
I can assure the Deputy that I am very sympathetic towards the problem which faces publicans in ascertaining the age of their customers. I am further satisfied that far and away the vast majority of publicans are conscientious in regard to their legal obligations in this matter.
Might I suggest to the Minister that his review committee might consider encouraging publicans to set off a non-alcoholic area within their houses, if possible, so that people who want to have a non-alcoholic drink will not be tempted?
That might not be too popular with the owners of public houses.
May I ask the Minister——
I gave the Deputy every latitude. Let him be fair with the Chair also. He is a very tolerant Deputy. I know he will understand my difficulty in getting through the business expeditiously and fairly. Question No. 16.
Will the Minister consult with his colleague, the Minister for Education, with a view to having school children educated on the disasters which drink can cause?
The report to which I referred highlights that aspect and it is being studied in the Department of Education.