Noel Dempsey
Ceist:158 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Justice the number of prosecutions for under-age drinking in the years 1983 to 1989, inclusive.
Written Answers. - Under-Age Drinking.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the only relevant statistics readily available are those relating to offences in which proceedings were taken for supplying or selling intoxicating drink to persons under 18 years of age. Those statistics for the years 1983 to 1988 are contained in the Garda Commissioner's Report on Crime, copies of which are available in the Library of the Houses of the Oireachtas. I am also informed that the number of such prosecutions in 1989, was 121 — this figure is provisional only.
The compilation of statistics for prosecutions in respect of other offences connected with under-age drinking would involve a disproportionate amount of Garda resources, which would not be justified at the present time.