Govt to clamp down on 'distance sale' of alcohol to minors

The Department of Justice is expected to use new surveillance methods to target the sale of alcohol to minors by third parties.

Off-licences and vintners that offer a delivery service for alcohol sales will come under pressure to request proof of age before a sale is complete.

The so-called 'test delivery scheme' is under consideration through the Sale of Alcohol Bill due to be published early this year.

However, such surveillance measures may run into legal difficulties, particularly where the definition of third party lies.

Chief Executive of Drink Aware Ireland, Fionnuala Sheehan, welcomed the move and said that any legal issues should be clarified as soon as possible.

"There is some anecdotal evidence that there is alcohol being sold on a 'distance sale' basis," she said.

"What would helpful is if the law is clarified on this front, because there appears to be some greyness in aspects of it,"