FG opposes 'test-purchase' scheme

Fine Gael has criticised a Government plan to use teenagers as “test purchasers” of alcohol at pubs and off licences across the State.

Alan Shatter, the party's justice spokesman, said he had grave reservations about the plan unveiled by Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern yesterday.

Mr Shatter said the initiative was both bizarre and ill-conceived and attempted to entrap people involved in the sale of alcohol.

"Whilst the guidelines for this harebrained scheme purport to recognise that 'the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration' they substantially ignore the stress and dangers that could be caused to a young person used as a 'test purchaser' of alcohol," he said.

He said participating in the Minister's Test Purchasing Scheme posed a risk that a young person, known to have assisted in the scheme, could be targeted by young hooligans and be a victim of assault and injury

The new operation will begin next month and will at first target premises that have long been suspected of selling drink to minors.

Any licence holder found to be breaking the law will be prosecuted, fined up to €5,000 and ordered to close for up to 30 days.

Mr Ahern said the planned test purchases did not represent entrapment of publicans. Instead, they simply aimed to increase licence holders’ compliance with the law.

He added that under the new Sale of Alcohol Bill, which is being framed, he wanted to strengthen the Garda’s hand in targeting retailers who sold drink by phone or online but did not ask for proof of age when delivering the alcohol to the buyer’s home.

“I want to consider a parallel scheme of test deliveries of alcohol which would cover home deliveries to under-18s, and also deliveries to any person where payment is accepted on delivery,” Mr Ahern said.

Mr Shatter called on Mr Ahern to abandon the scheme and find another way to bring those who sell alcohol to minors to justice that does not put young people at unnecessary risk

“I am also calling on all publicans to ensure that all necessary steps are taken by them to prevent the sale of alcohol to minors,” he said.