Seanad debates

Thursday, 19 June 2003

Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Committee Stage.

 

There is a requirement and a test on the publican in this Bill which is unfair, though I am sure it was never intended to be so. The provisions in sections 4(1)(a) to 4(1)(d) follow a particular line. Subsection (a) provides that the licensee shall not supply intoxicating liquor or permit any person to supply intoxicating liquor to a drunken person or to any person for consumption by a drunken person. It is very clear. Subsection (d) provides that the licensee shall not admit a drunken person to a bar. It is black and white inasmuch as anything can be. It is very difficult to comply with subsection (c), which provides that a licensee shall not permit drunkenness to take place in a bar. The Minister is asking someone to make a judgment that a person's next drink will make them drunk, but we have already decided what constitutes drunkenness.

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