Report advocates deregulation of off-licences

The Commission on Liquor Licensing has recommended a major deregulation of the off-licensing trade in an official report made public today.

Giving an off-licence to anybody would essentially increase the dangers associated with alcohol Chairman of the National Off-licence Association, Mr John Shiel

In its report the Commission advocates the creation of a new liquor off-licence which can be obtained without causing an existing licence to be extinguished.

It recommends that the courts should authorise these off-licences where applicants fulfil certain planning and other requirements.

The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, said it was too premature to say definitively what legislation would be drafted. He would not be drawn on whether he advocated a complete deregulation of the industry.

He said the report made a lot of sensible proposals but there were others he disagreed with. Significantly he said: "he would not be a force preventing deregulation."

He rejected criticism that a major deregulation of the off-licensing trade would increase the access of alcohol to minors.

In its report, the Commission proposes the establishment of a strategic task force to provide advice to Government and public bodies on best practice in alcohol harm prevention measures. It also recommends that age card forms be distributed through all appropriate channels.

The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue

It proposes that "the Department of Education and Science should give immediate effect to a system of educating young people in the country on dangers caused by the excessive consumption of alcohol."

Speaking to ireland.comthe chairman of the National Off-licence Association, Mr John Shiel said: "Giving an off-licence to anybody would essentially increase the dangers associated with alcohol.

Mr Shiel said his association was against complete deregulation as it would bring the industry into disrepute."This was the experience of other countries who had liberalised their laws," he said.He added that he did not know where the demand for new licences was coming. He said there were already a lot of off-licences in the State - one to every 166 adult drinkers. He said the number had increased considerably in recent years.