Alcohol in society - Easy access and low cost fuelling crime

LAST YEAR St Patrick’s Day drinking led to about 1,000 public order offences, widespread vandalism, some violence and a number of stabbings.

That trend is set to accelerate this year as figures just released show that alcohol-related juvenile crime has jumped by 35% in a mere two years. Department of Justice figures show 4,378 minors were referred to the Garda juvenile diversion programme for alcohol-related offences in 2007. This was a rise of 1,132 on 2005.

Justice Minister Brian Lenihan has told Labour deputy Seán Sherlock that 3,695 juveniles were dealt with through an informal caution under the juvenile diversion programme in 2007, a 30% increase on 2005.