Prosecutions after shops caught in garda sting selling drink to teens

GARDAÍ have confirmed they’ve used a sting operation for the first time in Cork which will result in the prosecution of four outlets for illegally selling alcohol to young teens.

Under new legislation, the authorities are permitted to recruit children under 18 to help detect breaches of the liquor licensing acts. Superintendent Con Cadogan said, in using volunteers under the legislation, gardaí had carried out “test purchases” in the Gurranabraher, Knocknaheeny and Ballincollig areas in an attempt to prevent underage teens acquiring drink. In recent days, undercover gardaí visited 13 outlets and witnessed an underage volunteer purchasing alcohol in four stores.

Supt Cadogan said gardaí were acting on complaints from the public about underage drinking in different parts of the north-western side of the city.

He said no pubs had been detected selling alcohol illegally but some shops with a liquor licence and off-licences were found to be in breach of legislation.

In all cases, the teenage sting operative was shadowed by a plainclothes garda when he or she entered an outlet. The operation is continuing.

Supt Cadogan said it would be quiet clear, to observers, the person was not 18 years, or over, and the undercover garda would check first if the salesperson sought an age ID card from the buyer. He said in four cases, where prosecutions are now likely, sales staff did not seek evidence of identification.

“There are severe penalties for premises which allow under-aged people purchase alcohol. Courts can issue closure orders on the premises for a couple of days, or even a month,” Supt Cadogan said.

He expected the sting operation to be rolled out to other parts of the city in due course. However, gardaí in his district would persist with the crackdown for as long as it takes.

Meanwhile, the superintendent acknowledged that some of the larger stores were conducting their own internal operations, also by using young teens, to ascertain if staff would be prepared to sell them alcohol.

“We are aware some staff who act responsibly and don’t sell alcohol to these people are given bonuses and we’d applaud this. It helps to encourage staff to act responsibly,” Supt Cadogan said.

An age-old problem, he further noted, was some teenagers over 18 are continuing to acquire alcohol at off-licences for underage friends. He said it was a matter gardaí would also address. “This is also an illegal practice and, if someone is caught doing it, they will face the courts.”