Young FG does not back drinking at 16
Young Fine Gael does not support this. In recent weeks we have been engaged in a major process of debate and consultation on the reform of alcohol policy.
This process has encouraged an unprecedented number of young people to get involved in important policy debate and it has also sparked serious deliberation and analysis of the various approaches to tackling alcohol abuse.
At our summer school held in Leitrim at the end of July, Young FG specifically debated the issue of the legal drinking age, and we rejected the proposal to lower it to 16.
I agree with Mr Kinsella that a reformed policy, including more flexible or extended pub-opening hours, should have the potential to “eliminate the mad rush for drink at last orders and throwing everyone out onto the streets at the same time.”
Young FG hope to campaign on this issue in the near future.
But I must point out that we would not support pubs opening “24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” as Mr Kinsella suggests.
Young Fine Gael is calling for a reformed regulated policy, not an unregulated ever-open policy.
William Lavelle
President
Young Fine Gael
51 Upper Mount St
Dublin 2
