The price of cheap take-out alcohol should be doubled to cut anti-social behaviour, the Lord Mayor of Dublin said today.
Andrew Montague said the Government should work alongside the Northern Ireland Assembly to set an agreed minimum price for off-licence sales.
The councillor said half of all anti-social behaviour problems in Ireland are drink-related. He said cans of lager on sale for as little as 50 cent should cost at least €1 each.
Councils also have to be given more power to restrict the growing number of off-licences opening around the country, he added.
“I think there is a case to be made for bringing in a minimum price for alcohol,” Mr Montague said. “We are seeing cans of beer in the supermarkets for less than 50 cent at the moment.
“We know the people who buy the cheapest of the cheap alcohol tend to be young people, often under-age drinkers, and people with drink problems. We’re not affecting the price of a drink in a pub or the glass of wine in the evenings. It’s about tackling the under-age drinking and problem drinking.”
Gardaí and Dublin City Council joined forces to call on families to play their part in helping reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour in communities across the city.
A recent survey by the council showed that while 88 per cent of people think the capital is a great place to live, more than a third feel anti-social behaviour, drugs and beggars are damaging the city’s reputation.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Feehan, who heads the Dublin Garda division, said any initiative to reduce the amount of alcohol consumed by youngsters was welcome.
“A lot of the work that members are dealing with day and night across the city around anti-social behaviour, a lot of it is drink-related,” he said. “The number of off-licences across the city has increased pretty dramatically in recent years and it certainly feeds in to some of the difficulties we have.”
Mr Montague said the behaviour of teenagers and young children hassling neighbours, using abusive language, or drinking or taking drugs should be dealt with within the family.
Dublin City Council is planning a pilot scheme to get tenants to make a pledge to better their community and behaviour - like setting curfews for their children - in return for improvements to their area.
City manager John Tierney said: “It’s about raising awareness among families. It is not appropriate to have 12-year-olds walking the street at 1am."
“If every family in the city got involved with their own children to enjoy the leisure centres, parks, playgrounds and other facilities it will give them a different outlook on life.”
PA