Number of prosecutions for buying alcohol for juveniles drops by 66%

THE number of people prosecuted for buying alcohol for minors dropped by two-thirds last year, as drink-related offences by juveniles levelled off.

As a drinks industry lobby group launched a pre-St Patrick’s Day advertising campaign against underage drinking, provisional figures released by the Department of Justice reveal 25 people were convicted in 2004 of buying alcohol for minors.

Proceedings commenced against 42 people, down from 126 the previous year, when there were 74 prosecutions. The reason for the drop is unclear, though it is suggested greater awareness among the public and off-licence staff as well as the vigilance of gardaí on the ground have had an impact.

The figures for the number of drink-related offences are not yet officially available, but reliable garda sources said they have levelled off at just over 4,000. The vast majority of the offences are for being drunk in a public place or purchasing and consuming alcohol.

Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Society (MEAS), which is funded by the drinks industry, is running a radio and newspaper advertising campaign appealing to off-licensees to take care not to sell alcohol to minors, to adults not to buy drink for them and urging young adults not to over-indulge. “Everyone recalls the social disorder and disgraceful behaviour that marred the festival in parts of Dublin last year. It is important that there is no repeat next week,” said MEAS chief executive Fionnuala Sheehan.

Ms Sheehan added that a recently published survey, commissioned by MEAS, found youngsters sourced much of their alcohol from home as parents are spending less time in the pub. This is due to lifestyle changes, the cost of child minders, pressure on time and even the growing popularity of wine, said Ms Sheehan, who also admitted “value”, or the price of alcohol, has been an issue. Gardaí working with juveniles believe youths are still getting most of their drink from off-licences and supermarkets from adults buying it and on the black market.

Plans for the policing of St Patrick’s Day in Dublin and other cities and towns are nearly complete.

In the capital, which witnessed public order problems among drunken youths last year, gardaí are set to swamp the city from early on.

Sources said parks, particularly St Stephen’s Green, will be targeted. “We want to nip the drinking in the bud because if we do not, then you will see the public order problems later on,” said one senior member.