Calls to raise age limit on spirits to 22

The Government is being urged to raise the legal age for drinking spirits to 22 amid concerns youngsters bingeing on hard liquor will face serious health consequences in the future.

There was only one dissenting voice against the motion adopted by Cork County Council yesterday as a Fine Gael councillor, Pa O’Driscoll said “prohibition simply doesn’t work”.

However, the rest of the chamber supported the call from Fianna Fáil councillor Kevin O’Keeffe to get the age limit raised and will now write to Alex White, the junior health minister, seeking legislation on the matter.

Mr O’Keeffe said that, 20 years ago, whiskey was not regarded as a young person’s drink, but he was now horrified by the amount of young people drinking spirits, especially in shots.

Fianna Fáil councillor Frank O’Flynn and Fine Gael councillor John O’Sullivan said below-cost selling was fuelling the problem.

Mr O’Keeffe said putting up prices was not the answer, as it would affect people who drank responsibly.

“There are simply too many outlets now which can sell drink. It’s now socially acceptable that kids as young as 13 and 14 are drinking at the weekends,” said Labour councillor Cathal Rasmussen.

Fine Gael councillor Derry Canty said teenagers clubbing together could get a lot of drink for very little money and they were then consuming alcohol at outdoor ‘bushing’ parties.

“They can see the gardaí a mile off and then run. I’ve seen it in Ballincollig. The older teenagers are buying it for them,” he said.

Mayor of County Cork Noel O’Connor said he thought it was a sensible and measured motion.

“This is being done in the USA and it works,” he said.

Labour councillor Ronan Sheehan said he had been to holiday camps in France where people underage were allowed wine and shandy. They could drink legitimately at 18, he said, but the age limit was higher for strong beers and spirits.

Mr O’Keeffe said he was aware of this and there were other countries in Europe which had adopted a similar approach.

Meanwhile, Mr O’Driscoll noted that Mr O’Keeffe, who turned 50 recently, had decided to doubly celebrate his birthday and re-election campaign launch in a pub.