Gardaí to get new powers in alcohol crackdown

Tough new powers allowing gardaí to crack down on the sale of alcohol and to seize drink from youths in public come into force from tonight.

Opening hours for off-licences are to be cut back and officers will be able to give fixed-penalty fines for public order offences.

The measures are outlined in the Intoxicating Liquor Act and can be rolled out from midnight.

Supermarkets must also sell drink in areas separated from other produce but businesses have come up with a strict code of practice as an alternative to statutory enforcement.

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said the new rules would help tackle alcohol abuse.

“The Act places restriction on the availability and visibility of alcohol and provides for more effective enforcement to deal with the consequences of alcohol abuse,” he said.

“The introduction of Fixed Penalty charges for offences of intoxication in a public place and disorderly conduct will not only lead to more efficient use of public resources but hopefully will also support more responsible behaviour on the part of those concerned.”

The new rules mean gardaí will be able to seize drink from anyone under 18 in public if they suspect it is going to be consumed outside of a private home.

Officers will also be able to take alcohol from anyone if they feel trouble could break out and to order people to leave the area.

Fixed penalty charges will also be rolled out for being drunk and disorderly.

The new powers include:

:: New hours for off-sales of alcohol. Weekdays between 10.30am and 10pm and on Sunday from 12.30pm to 10pm.

:: Tougher public order provisions allowing the gardaí to seize alcohol from minors.

:: A court procedure to secure a new wine-only off-licence.

:: New grounds for objection to the granting of an off-licence .

:: New conditions attaching to the granting of a special exemption order.

:: Holders of theatre licences will be restricted to the normal licensing hours unless additional hours are sanctioned by a special exemption order.

The Act also stated alcohol in supermarkets and petrol stations must be sold in a different area to other products.

If this is not possible it must go on sale behind a counter.

Mr Ahern has agreed to a strict code of practice by the industry to roll out these new rules as an alternative to statutory enforcement.

Advertising alcohol and cut price drink deals will also be regulated.

There will be no new licences for early houses under the new legislation.

Some 50 such pubs operate around the country and the Government scrapped plans late last month to abolish them under the overhaul of the drinking laws.

The Intoxicating Liquor Act came about following recommendations from the Government-commissioned Alcohol Advisory Group which presented its report to former Justice Minister Brian Lenihan last March.