Off-licence operators call for national ID system

Four separate counterfeiting operations in Dublin making fake IDs for underage drinkers have been uncovered since the beginning of the year, a conference of off-licence traders was told today.

The operations were producing fake IDs almost identical to the national voluntary ones and selling them for up to €40 each, Superintendent Vincent McGuire, director of the National Juvenile Office of An Garda Siochana, told delegates.

Superintendent McGuire was speaking to National Off-Licence Association (NOFFLA) delegates at a special training seminar for members seeking accreditation to the association's Responsible Trading in the Community (RTC) Accreditation Scheme.

The conference heard a number of calls for the Government to introduce mandatory ID cards to help fight the problem of underage drinking.

NOFFLA chairman, Mr John Shiel, said his members have done "everything possible to make a valuable contribution to solving the problem, but without the support of the Government the situation for his members was becoming more and more difficult".

Mr Shiel said: "In the absence of mandatory identification cards, our members have to contend with forged IDs, unscrupulous adults buying alcohol for teenagers and irate parents attempting to the blame the industry for selling alcohol to youngsters".

"Despite our best efforts and vigilance, our members are expected to be able to detect a forged ID that has been created using modern technology.

"In many cases it is virtually impossible to detect the forgery and, therefore, it is often impossible to determine whether a young person is over 18 years of age.

"The industry feels let down by the Government, when its members are making such a concerted effort to stamp out underage drinking," Mr Shiel said.

MEAS, the body that promotes sensible drinking, described the Responsible Trading in the Community (RTC) scheme as an "important programme".

The group's chief executive, Ms Fionnuala Sheehan, told ireland.comthat she welcomed today's conference as it proved some in the industry were taking their responsibility seriously.

Ms Sheehan said the problem of fake IDs underlined the need for a mandatory national ID system.

The Cider Industry Council, which sponsors the RTC scheme, have produced special awareness posters to promote the campaign for the mandatory ID.

The Council's chairman, Mr Peter McKimm, said: "The poster includes photographs of four teenagers, aged 17, and one 20-year-old and poses the question Which one of these people is over 18."

Mr McKimm claimed the posters should be used in off-licence outlets "to raise awareness of the problems facing the industry" and to encourage responsible adults to carry identification.