Off-licences face tougher regulations

OFF-LICENCES may find it more difficult to renew their licences under plans being explored by the Government to limit underage and problem drinking.

Speaking yesterday, Minister of State for Primary Care in the Department of Health, Róisín Shortall, said her department was looking at “other ways” of addressing the issue of the easy availability of alcohol and the high density of off-licences, particularly in urban areas.

She also said she wanted to focus attention on parental attitudes to drinking, which were sometimes “irresponsible” and “ambivalent”, as well as minimum pricing and tougher enforcement of underage selling and distance selling of alcohol, such as phone and online ordering of alcohol.