Off-licence shut for 48 hours after underage sale

An off-licence was yesterday ordered to close its business for 48 hours for selling a bottle of wine to a girl under the age of 18.

The 17-year-old was part of a Garda operation involving what was described at Cork District Court as the test purchasing of alcohol.

Judge Con O’Leary noted the plea of guilty to the offence of allowing the sale of wine to an underage person on October 30, 2012.

The defendant in the action, licensee, David O’Sullivan, was not behind the counter at O’Sullivan’s off-licence on Main St, Ballincollig, Co Cork, when the sale was made.

Judge O’Leary was told yesterday the licensee took the matter very seriously. Employed up to 10 people, he sincerely regretted what had occurred and was diligent in the training and re-training of staff in relation to this issue.

Judge O’Leary ordered the closure of the premises for a period of 48 hours, the closure to take effect 30 days after yesterday’s order.

The judge said the message had to go out, not only to the defendant in this case, but also to other licensees, the seriousness with which courts viewed such offences. A fine of €100 was imposed but, more significantly, the two-day closure was ordered.

Inspector Mary King said the 17-year-old girl was sold a bottle of wine without showing any ID and the wine was then handed directly to a Garda who witnessed the transaction.

Judge O’Leary said the closure might not be as severe in mid-October as it might be shortly before Christmas, for instance.