Calls to raise age limit on spirits to 22

The Government is being urged to raise the legal age for drinking spirits to 22 amid concerns youngsters bingeing on hard liquor will face serious health consequences in the future.

There was only one dissenting voice against the motion adopted by Cork County Council yesterday as a Fine Gael councillor, Pa O’Driscoll said “prohibition simply doesn’t work”.

However, the rest of the chamber supported the call from Fianna Fáil councillor Kevin O’Keeffe to get the age limit raised and will now write to Alex White, the junior health minister, seeking legislation on the matter.