Vol. 491 No. 3
438 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the recent recommendation by the Southern Health Board that the legal age for the sale of alcohol should be increased to 21 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12248/98]
I assume the Deputy is referring to the survey Smoking, Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Cork and Kerry conducted by the Southern Health Board's department of public health and published in November 1997. The survey contains numerous suggestions, one of which is that consideration should be given to increasing the legal age for the sale of alcohol to 21 years of age. I look forward to the report on the review of the licensing laws being carried out by the subcommittee of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality and Women's Rights who may have some initial guidance to offer on this particular aspect of the law.
As I have stated in reply to Questions Nos. 69 and 70 of 23 April 1998, I propose to consider generally the question of amending legislation on our licensing laws in the context, among other matters, of publication of the sub-committee's report.
