Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Nov 1993

Vol. 435 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions Written Answers. - Sale of Alcohol.

Ivor Callely

Question:

12 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the public disquiet at the way young people under 18 years are able to obtain alcoholic drinks; the number of licensed and off-licensed premises prosecuted for selling intoxicating liquor to persons under age in 1992 and comparative figures for 1991; the fines/penalties imposed; and if she will review this matter with a view to imposing heavier fines/penalties.

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

I am very concerned about the problem of under-age drinking and in so far as my Department and the Garda Síochána is concerned, I will strive to see that all possible steps are taken to keep the problem under control.

The Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1988, provides for stiff penalties for licence-holders convicted of supplying alcohol to under-age persons. In the case of a first offence, the maximum fine is £300 which increases to £500 for a second or subsequent offence. The mandatory licence endorsement provisions of the Intoxicating Liquor Acts also apply to such offences.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of prosecutions brought in 1992 for offences of supplying or selling drink to persons under 18 years of age was 83. The corresponding figure for 1991 was 166. The levels of fine and/or other penalty imposed is, as the Deputy will appreciate, a matter for determination by the court hearing the case. With regard to details of the penalties imposed by the courts, these figures are not readily available and would have to be specially compiled. This could only be done by diverting scarce staff resources from other more pressing tasks which I consider would not be warranted in the circumstances.

I am informed by the gardaí that alcohol is not readily supplied by licensees to persons under 18 years of age. However, as the Deputy will understand, no amount of legislative steps can totally overcome the problem of young people acquiring intoxicating liquor from other sources. The economic, social, educational, cultural and health factors involved in the complex problem of underage drinking need to be considered. In this regard I would refer the Deputy to the reply given by the Minister for Health to a parliamentary question on 10 March 1993, Vol. 427 — cols. 1450-1452, in which he outlined the multifaceted strategy in which the Health Promotion Unit of his Department is involved in order to tackle the problem of alcohol abuse.