Call for online alcohol sales ban

AN organisation representing 1,500 small shops and retailers has called for the online sale of alcohol to be scrapped in a bid to stop teenagers buying it.

The Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association also said the rules governing the issuing of Garda age cards needed to be changed and that the sale of alcohol to over-18s should be staggered on the basis of alcohol per volume.

The body was responding to Thursday night’s Primetime programme on RTÉ, which showed a number of off-licences in Swords in Dublin carrying out the illegal practice of cash on delivery with alcohol sold to underage drinkers.