Written Answers. - Age Card Scheme.
Róisín Shortall
Question:
33
Ms Shortall
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the number of young people who have applied for the national voluntary age card scheme; the steps being taken to promote the use of the card having regard to ongoing concern about the extent of under age drinking; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20157/00]
I have been informed by the Garda authorities that 16,100 age cards have been issued as of the beginning of October 2000 and an average of 150 applications are being received daily.
I officially launched the age card scheme awareness campaign in Dublin Castle on 6 September 2000 in conjunction with the Garda authorities. All relevant bodies in the drinks industry were invited to the launch and attended it. I am also informed by the Garda authorities that the following steps have been taken to promote the use of the age card: all Garda stations have been notified of the age card scheme and issued with application forms and posters; a poster campaign has been initiated to target all pubs, stand alone off-licences and grocery based off-licences, night-clubs and dance halls, etc; youth information centres and youth groups nationwide have been issued with information, posters and contact numbers for further support; Garda juvenile liaison officers and community gardaí are visiting post-primary schools, youth clubs, special projects, etc highlighting the age card scheme; there is on-going liaison between the drinks industry and the Garda Síochana and new avenues of ensuring young people get the age card message are being explored.
The Deputy is aware that the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1988, already contains a comprehensive set of provisions designed to tackle the problem of under age drinking. The primary purpose of these provisions is to make it as difficult as possible for persons under 18 years of age to purchase alcohol, or to be in possession of it or to consume it in any place other than a private residence. Under this legislation it is an offence for a licence holder to sell or deliver alcohol to a person under 18 years of age and for a person over 18 years to purchase it for consumption by a person under 18 years, unless the alcohol is consumed in a private residence. In so far as legislation can contribute to combating abuse of alcohol by young persons, the controls provided for in the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1988, are generally regarded as going as far as criminal legislation could reasonably be expected to go.
The Intoxicating Liquor Act, 2000, came into effect on 6 July 2000. This wide-ranging Act amends the Licensing Acts, 1833 to 1999, and the Registration of Clubs Acts, 1904 to 1999. It provides for significant extension of licensing hours and wide-reaching changes in the licensing system. It also provides for considerable strengthening of the law on under age drinking.
With a view to strengthening those provisions which already exist in relation to the supply or sale of intoxicating liquor to under age persons, I have abolished the defence of reasonable belief in any proceedings against the licensee, increased the fines for breaches of the law on under age drinking and provided for a new penalty – a mandatory temporary closure order – for conviction of the sale of alcohol to under age persons.
These additional provisions, in conjunction with the national age card scheme, which was introduced in April 1999, will further strengthen the hand of all agencies in the fight against under age drinking. However, it must be borne in mind that while legislative measures, together with initiatives such as the voluntary age card scheme, can help to curtail the problem of under age drinking, they cannot be viewed as the only solution. Dealing with the demand side of the under age drinking problem should not be seen as the province of the State agencies alone – the drinks industry, the creative media and, in particular, parents, must also play their part in helping to address that side of the problem.
