Thomas Gould
Ceist:559. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice her plans to progress legislation on alcohol licensing in view of the upsurge in drink deliveries due to the Covid-19 pandemic. [5212/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 3 February 2021
Ceisteanna (559)
Freagraí scríofa
There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to modernise our licensing laws and application processes and this is under consideration in my department.
I understand the concerns that people have in relation to the purchase for delivery of alcohol products and I am very conscious of the detrimental effects of alcohol dependency on families and society.
While there is no dedicated licence for online sales of intoxicating liquor, licensees of licensed premises may engage in online sales subject to certain restrictive conditions.
As matters stand, under existing legislation where alcohol is purchased online, the same restrictions on the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor apply, including the restrictions in relation to hours of trading and the provisions in relation to the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor to young persons.
Under section 17(3) of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003, it is an offence for a licensee, with intent to evade the conditions of the licence, to take intoxicating liquor from the licensed premises for the purpose of its being sold on the account or for the benefit or profit of the licensee, or to permit any other person to do so.
Section 31 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1988, as amended, makes provision for offences relating to the sale and delivery of alcohol products to persons under the age of 18 years. It is an offence under section 31(2) for a licensee to sell or deliver, or to permit any other person to sell or deliver, alcohol products to any person for consumption off his or her licensed premises by a person under the age of 18 years in any place except with the explicit consent of the person's parent or guardian in a private residence in which he or she is present either as of right or with permission.
In conclusion, there is substantial existing legislation to regulate the delivery of alcohol services in Ireland. However, I do appreciate that, with the Covid-19 outbreak, habits of consumers have been affected and the share of purchases online has increased. These changes may be temporary or they may be the beginning of longer term trends. It is perhaps too early to tell what impacts these changes may have and whether increased online sales and delivery of alcohol will, on balance, provide increased convenience and choice to consumers or have negative impacts on society that require further regulation. I intend to keep the matter under review and will consider it further in the context of the wider reform of licensing law.