Seanad debates

Thursday, 19 June 2003

Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Committee Stage.

 

The House should give credit to the parliamentary counsel for this provision. It is subtly drafted and distinguishes between different situations. The draftsman has taken on board the situation of the hotelier faced with guests tottering into the premises from the street. His duty is to keep them out of the bar and not to serve them more drink in the hotel. However, he need not put them out of the hotel and can, in this case, permit drunkenness in the hotel. He can allow the drunken person into his room to sleep it off or let him have a cup of coffee in the residents' lounge. He must be able to do that. It is not easy to draft this law and it cannot be done in a casual way. I am reasonably happy that this measure has been rigorously drafted.

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