Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 31 January 2023
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality
General Scheme of the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed)
James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Okay. I thank Ms Graham.
I have two questions, which probably come under the miscellaneous category. I will run through them quickly. Several of the opening submissions touched on a point, including those from the Mandate trade union and some of the alcohol groups. I think the phrase "drunken persons" is in the proposed legislation now and there is some provision for how such people might be handled on licensed premises. Effectively, I think this means someone who has overindulged and refers to how they are managed on and off the premises. I have been around pubs and clubs for a while now, probably too long, but I do not think I have ever seen someone being refused service, or rarely, or a conversation regarding someone being thought to be too full and it being better to call it a night. In several years of being around licensed premises, I do not think I have ever seen that happen. It was also mentioned that there has never been a prosecution for failing to act in this regard. What are people's views in this regard? Is this something that needs to be stepped up a gear? I call Ms Leonard.