People between 18 and 25 will be compelled to prove their age if they want to drink in pubs, under new legislation to be introduced by the Minister for Justice Mr McDowell.
Speaking this morning the Minister said that those in the designated age-group will be obliged to carry identification to prove their age, and that it will be up to pub and night club proprietors to ensure that people on their premises held the necessary identification.
Such identification would be a passport, a driver's licence, or a Garda age card.
A spokesperson for the Minister added that underage patrons will not be completely banned from pubs, as there was nothing in the Intoxicating Liquor Act that specified such a move. However they will be prohibited from remaining on the premises after a certain hour in the evening.
The Minister is believed to be awaiting the publication of the final report of the Commission on Liquor Licensing, which is due in March, before he introduces the new proposals, which are currently in the planning stage.
Mr McDowell added that he favoured the introduction of different opening and closing times for different counties.
Last July the Minister called on pub licensees to enforce the existing 'age card' scheme, citing a need to address rising levels of public drunkenness among teenagers. He also rejected criticisms that the Eur6 charged for the age card was a deterrent to an individual obtaining one.