Seanad debates

Wednesday, 18 June 2003

Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Second Stage.

 

Section 9 extends the temporary closure of premises penalty to include offences under several sections, including sections 4 and 7. While temporary closure of the premises will be mandatory in the event of conviction, the District Court will retain a margin of discretion with regard to the duration of the closure period. This penalty is confined under existing legislative provisions to convictions for under age drinking. The reason the mandatory penalty of closure for some period is being introduced is I want licensees and, above all, their staff to clearly understand they can say with safety to somebody on the premises that he or she has had enough to drink. Staff, in particular, will be able to say, "It is as good as my job is worth to serve you any more."

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