asked the Minister for Justice if he will indicate the number of licensees both charged with and prosecuted for the sale of alcohol to under age persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Sale of Alcohol to Under Age Persons.
30.
The information sought is not available in the form requested by the Deputy. However, information as to the number of prosecutions for the supplying of or selling of drink to persons under 18 years is published in the Garda Commissioners' annual report on crime. Details of such prosecutions for the three year period up to 1986 are as follows:
|
1984 |
1985 |
1986 |
|
18 |
22 |
6 |
The report for 1987 is not yet available.
I have been concerned at the level of under-age drinking in the country and the apparent difficulty experienced by the Garda in obtaining successful prosecutions against persons who supply alcohol to young persons. The difficulty in obtaining prosecutions is largely due to the fact that it must be proved in court that the licensee "knowingly" supplied alcohol to a person under 18 years of age.
The Intoxicating Liquor Bill, 1988, which I introduced yesterday, proposes to repeal the relevant sections of the 1924 Intoxicating Liquor (General) Act which contain the word "knowingly" and to introduce new provisions which do not include that word. This change in the law along with several other provisions will, I believe, make a significant contribution towards curbing under-age drinking.