Proposals by the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, that people aged between 18 and up to 25 show proof of age before entering pubs at night have met with a lukewarm reaction from the National Youth Council of Ireland.
The council, a voluntary body for youth organisations, said enforcement of existing laws was needed, not new legislation compelling young people to show proof of age before allowing them to enter pubs.
Mr Colm Ó Mongáin, from the council, said compelling people to have proof of age was unnecessary as long as publicans and gardaí enforced existing laws.
Currently, publicans are obliged not to serve alcohol to people aged under the legal drinking age of 18.
Mr Ó Mongáin said passing new laws in this area would not deal with the "bulk" of the problem which was "putting the brakes on deregulation" of the drinks industry, which Mr McDowell's Progressive Democrats party favours. He also said that "targeting 18 to 25 year olds marks them out as people who are likely to be causing trouble . . . it's assuming that they pose a greater danger of committing a crime".
The Vintners' Federation of Ireland, which represents some 6,000 publicans outside Dublin, broadly welcomed Mr McDowell's proposal. It said any move towards a national mandatory identification system was welcomed. The Cider Industry Council said mandatory national age cards should be introduced.
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties said the Minister should focus on patterns of drinking and problems of excess drinking rather than trying to prevent young people from entering pubs.
While it is an offence for publicans to serve people who are visibly intoxicated, this provision was "virtually not enforced" in the State, with the exception of Co Mayo, said Mr Liam Herrick from the council.