Youth council: McDowell's café bar licences 'highly dangerous'

The proposals from the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell for new café bar licences are being labelled "highly dangerous" by the National Youth Council of Ireland.

The group claims the proposals go against the Strategic Taskforce on Alcohol which recommends a restriction on any further availability of alcohol.

Youth Council Director Mary Cunningham said that an increase in the number of outlets will lead to an increase in alcohol abuse.

"I think what the evidence shows is that alcohol consumption is directly related to availability. The report is recommending that there is a cap on the number of outlets selling alcohol," she said.