Home delivery of drink to youngsters as easy as ordering a pizza

Monday, 06 September 2010 11:07

Harry Barrett is to be commended for calling on the Government to take steps to regulate the home delivery of alcohol and particular to prevent deliveries to those under age.
Following last week's "PrimeTime" TV programme on the issue, the Labour Councillor claimed: "In Castlebar, it is now as easy to order home delivery drink as it is to order a pizza and there is little or nothing to stop drink being delivered to those who are not legally entitled to buy it.
"As we are well aware, we have had an issue with children who are underage, turning up to social events in a drunken state.
"Apart from the health issues involved, there is also evidence that the easy availability of alcohol to those under age is fuelling youth crime and vandalism.
"An Irish Youth Services Report on the country's Garda Youth Diversion Projects last year found that alcohol was a factor in 50 per cent of youth crime.
"The Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern needs to outline what steps he intends to take to prevent home deliveries of drink from falling into the hands of those under age.
"It is also very disappointing that Minister Ahern has failed to use powers available to him to provide for the traceability of take-away alcohol sold in off-licences, pubs and supermarkets.
"If we are serious about dealing with the problem of underage drinking it is essential that proper measures be introduced to ensure traceability of takeaway sales and to properly regulate home deliveries."