New tamper-proof age card launched

A NEW tamper-proof age card aimed at stamping out the illegal sale of alcohol to the underage has been launched.

The card has state of the art security features which cannot be fraudulently replicated.

The new device has been introduced to cope with technological advances and to ensure that the National Age Card is protected against forgery or alteration, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell, said yesterday.

Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Society (MEAS) welcomed the launch yesterday of the card, but called for the roll-out of a compulsory identification card to combat under-age drinking.

The group has also criticised the €10 levy on the card, which it argues will discourage young people from applying.

“There is little doubt that a national compulsory Age Card scheme would help reduce the problem of under age drinking. It would certainly help pubs and off-licence premises to properly police the under-age drinking law, and it would also help parents in addressing issues around alcohol with their teenage children,” said MEAS chief executive Fionnuala Sheehan.

The National Age Card Scheme, introduced in 1999 and administered by the gardaí, has facilitated, in co-operation with the licensed trade, in addressing and combating the problem of underage drinking, the Minister said. The scheme allows any person who has attained 18 years of age to apply for an age card at their local garda station in order to verify that they have attained the legal age for the purchase of alcohol.

Launching the card yesterday the Tánaiste said: “The new National Age Card is the culmination of a comprehensive review of the age card scheme undertaken by an Garda Síochána with the intention of introducing a new age card with enhanced security features and processing procedures.”