Ban on children in pubs ‘should be more flexible’
The father, who is aware of the ban on under-18s in pubs after 9pm, enters and asks the owner for permission for one of his children to use the toilet.
If the owner, who happens to be a Fianna Fáil councillor, says yes, he’s breaking the law. “Of course, I said yes,” declared Cllr Michael Cahill.
“It was an embarrassing situation and it’s going to keep happening, but I used my common sense.”
He and his wife, Brenda, have invested heavily in the family-run Ross Inn, overlooking Rossbeigh Beach, just off the Ring of Kerry, and claim business is being hit more by the ban on children than the smoking ban. “We’re supposed to be the premier tourist county. Yet, we’re not in a position to welcome visitors in the way we should,” commented Mr Cahill.
Families make up the lion’s share of tourism in the Glenbeigh/Rossbeigh area and the season is mainly July and August.
The Cahills also serve food, and family customers who might like a drink have to leave early after an evening meal. “Like any seaside resort, we used to have families on the premises well after 9pm, especially if a band was playing. But that’s all changed.
“People are now going home early, or not coming out at all,” said Mr Cahill.
He said 15 to 18-year-olds should definitely be allowed in bars after 9pm, if accompanied by parents.
“People in that age bracket are going to be out anyway and, by leaving them off unsupervised, an even bigger monster is being created.
“Young people are being left exposed to substances other than alcohol.
“This law should be revisited. Maybe allowing under-18s in pubs until 10.30pm would be a fair compromise.
“I acknowledge the need for legislation to curb underage drinking but, rather than bringing in laws like this one, the onus should be put back on publicans and more severe penalties should be imposed on those caught serving alcohol to young people,” he said.
Mr Cahill claimed many fine FF councillors lost their seats in the local elections because of strict legislation being introduced by both partners in government.
“The Government got a wake-up call, but it was councillors that got a belting. Senior FF politicians had not been listening and that’s why we got the hammering we got,” he remarked.
As regards the smoking ban, he said it was self-policing, at this stage, but people were still complaining about it.
“The ban on children is having a much worse effect, especially on our type of business and where we’re located,” he said.
