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Home > Dail Eireann debate. Written answers 278 - Sale of alcohol [35924/12].

[Oireachtas] Dail Eireann debate. Written answers 278 - Sale of alcohol [35924/12]. (18 Jul 2012)

External website: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2...


278. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will introduce legislation to require mandatory identification for all purchases of alcohol products regardless of age or other measures he may think appropriate to address the serious problem of secondary purchasing of alcohol by adults for minors. [35924/12]

Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter): The position is that section 32 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1988 (as substituted by the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003) prohibits any person from purchasing intoxicating liquor for delivery to, or consumption by, a person under the age of 18 years, or delivering intoxicating liquor to such a person. It is not unlawful for such a person to purchase or deliver intoxicating liquor for consumption by a person under the age of 18 years in a private residence with the explicit consent of that person’s parent or guardian.  

Furthermore, section 7 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 provides that when granting a certificate in respect of a spirit, beer or wine off-licence, the District Court may impose a condition that a CCTV system be installed. This provision was included in the 2008 Act with a view to deterring people from loitering in the vicinity of off-licences and to combating secondary purchasing.
 
I am not convinced that the introduction of mandatory identification would be feasible or effective in an effort to combat secondary purchasing. Framing legislation to deal with the supply of alcohol to under 18s presents a particular challenge. It must seek to accommodate cases where a parent permits supervised consumption of alcohol by a 17 year old within the family environment while, at the same time, combatting situations where alcohol is purchased by an older sibling, or some other third party, for unsupervised consumption by under-18s in public parks or other outdoor locations.
 
The Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy, which was published earlier this year, considered the issue of secondary purchasing of alcohol by adults for minors but did not make any recommendations for further legislation in this area. I am however prepared to give serious consideration in the context of the forthcoming Sale of Alcohol Bill to any reasonable and workable proposal to tackle secondary purchasing.
 
Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Referral to Select Committee – Sale of Alcohol
Vol. 772 No. 2
Wednesday, 18 July 2012
Item Type
Dail Debates
Publication Type
Irish-related
Drug Type
Alcohol
Intervention Type
Policy
Source
Oireachtas
Date
18 July 2012
EndNote
View
Related (external) link
Subjects
A Substance use and dependence > Substance related societal (social) problems > Underage drinking
B Substances > Alcohol
G Health and disease > Substance use disorder > Alcohol use disorder
L Social psychology and related concepts > Physical context, location or place > Alcohol beverage sales outlet (shop / pub / bar)
L Social psychology and related concepts > Availability, accessibility, and supply
MM-MO Crime and law > Substance related offence > Alcohol offence > Illegal alcohol sales and seizures
MM-MO Crime and law > Substance use laws > Alcohol laws (liquor licensing)
T Demographic characteristics > Underage drinker
VA Geographic area > Europe > Ireland

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