Off-licence owners ‘passing the buck’
The National Parents Council accused owners of off-licence outlets of “passing the buck” by placing the responsibility for sensible drinking on parents.
John Shiel, of the National Off-Licence Association, told his organisation’s annual conference the best place for a young person to start drinking was in the home.
Mr Shiel said: “It is infinitely preferable that young people should have their first experiences of alcohol in the safe and controlled setting of the family.
“In the home environment, drink is more likely to be consumed with food, parents have the opportunity to make young people aware of the serious consequences of abuse, and responsible guidelines can be discussed and agreed.”
Parents council chair Eleanor Petrie argued: “Our children come from a variety of family backgrounds...families that never have drink in the house, others where there may be a history of alcohol problems.”
Ms Petrie believes off-licences have a great responsibility, because they knowingly sell alcohol to those who are under-age or to adults buying for them.
They know their market, she argues, and when someone walks in and buys a few flagons of cider, it’s “not for a dinner party”. Like paracetamol, multiple sales of drinks such as cider should be banned.
Mr Shiel, who heads a 300-member organisation, added that liberalisation of alcohol retailing is likely to increase the problem.
The association will, in the near future, issue guidelines for parents on responsible drinking. Ms Petrie said educational programmes have been shown not to work.
Meanwhile, the chair of the Dáil health committee, TD Batt O’Keeffe, has complained to advertising watchdogs about an advertisement for Vitamin C tablets Rubex as a cure for hangovers. He said the ads are “irresponsible”.
