Seanad debates
Thursday, 19 June 2003
Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Committee Stage.
Section 4(4) provides that the licensee may prove all reasonable steps were taken to prevent drunkenness taking place, which is very reasonable. I imagine it was the intention in section 4(1)(c) to make the same provision whereby a licensee would be required to take reasonable steps to prevent drunkenness taking place. It may well be impossible to prevent drunkenness. It is a bit like virginity. Can one say a person is a little bit drunk? At what stage is sobriety gone? When are we over the line? Things do not work that way, which is why section 4(1)(c) should be deleted and replaced with the wording used in section 4(4) which is much closer to achieving the Minister's ends. I believe that in section 4(1)(c) the Minister wishes to ensure that a licensee takes all reasonable steps to prevent drunkenness on the premises. The form of words used further down would fit in very well there. The Minister has already used them and I would like to hear his views on the matter.
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