Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 909: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on measures being taken to combat under age drinking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24253/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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While I have general responsibility for the liquor licensing laws in my capacity as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Minister for Health and Children has responsibility for public health policies which encompass health promotion initiatives relating to alcohol consumption, including under age and binge drinking. As regards reform of the licensing laws, earlier this year I published proposals for an intoxicating liquor Bill which will streamline and modernise the liquor licensing code. It will repeal the licensing Acts 1833 to 2004, as well as the registration of clubs Acts 1904 to 2004, and replace them with updated provisions more suited to modern conditions.

I am conscious of public concerns about alcohol-related harm in our society and the new Bill will contain safeguards and provide for increased penalties in order to combat such harm. These include requiring applicants for retail licences, including off-sales licences, to present proof of planning permission and certification of compliance with planning conditions and fire safety standards to the District Court; extending the jurisdiction of the District Court to all retail licences and giving specified notice parties, including the health authority and members of the public, the right to object to the grant of a licence; streamlining the system for renewing licences and clarifying the right of members of the public to object to renewal in any particular case on stated grounds; strengthening provisions designed to combat sales to under age persons by, for example, requiring all off-sales premises to have written policies and control procedures; supplementing existing offences relating to under age consumption of alcohol with a new offence of being in possession of a forged Garda age card; and increasing the levels of penalties and sanctions, including a proposal that all temporary closure orders should involve closure for a minimum of two days.

The Bill will also allow the Garda to object to applications for new retail licences on the grounds of an undue risk of public nuisance or a threat to public order or safety. In addition, it will contain provisions for dealing with drunkenness and disorderly conduct on licensed premises, as well as combating the sale and supply of alcohol to under age persons.

The Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 contains measures aimed at combating drunkenness and disorderly conduct and tackling the problem of under age and binge drinking. The provisions in the 2003 Act, which gave effect to certain recommendations of the Commission on Liquor Licensing and the strategic task force on alcohol, include a strengthening of the provisions prohibiting the sale or delivery of alcohol to persons under the age of 18; restrictions on the presence of persons under the age of 18 in bars of licensed premises, and a new requirement that persons aged 18 to 20 must carry an age document in order to be in the bar of licensed premises after 9 p.m. — 10 p.m. during the period from 1 May to 30 September. These provisions are intended to assist licensees in complying with provisions relating to under age consumption of alcohol and to assist gardaí in enforcing the law.