The first steps in the Coalition Government's campaign to tackle alcohol abuse comes into effect today. After years of random street violence and hooliganism, following the closure of licensed premises at night, publicans and their inebriated clients will be made more answerable for their actions.
The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, has signed various provisions of the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 2003, into law under which publicans who sell alcohol to intoxicated persons, permit drunkenness on their premises or contribute to public disorder, can be fined heavily and have their premises closed. The provision of music or entertainment during the 30 minutes drinking-up time will be banned, as will "happy hour" promotions.
These are sensible rules and make it easier for the Garda to enforce the law and respond to consistent public disorder. Under the provisions, plain clothes gardai will be able to monitor the situation in licensed premises and they have been given enhanced enforcement powers. Drunken persons who refuse to follow the instructions of a garda can be fined.
Other provisions, involving reduced opening hours on Thursdays; identity cards for those between 18 and 20 years and a ban on persons under 18 years-of-age being present on licensed premises after 9 p.m., will come into effect on September 29th. Mr McDowell has described the measures as the Government's response to public order and public health worries arising from excessive alcohol consumption.
The opposition parties have broadly welcomed the measures, but they have questioned whether they can be effectively enforced. As might be expected, some publicans have criticised the new laws and have pointed out that alcohol consumption has begun to fall. The demise of the so-called "Celtic Tiger" has certainly affected consumption. But gross drunkenness and mindless violence is all-too-common when people spill on to the streets after closing time. Accident and emergency wards in hospitals still overflow at weekends. And, given that the consumption of alcohol rose by 40 per cent between 1989 and 1999, we still have a long way to go in moderating our consumption. On top of that, there is an urgent need to address the problem of "binge drinking" that affects two-thirds of boys and 50 per cent of girls in the 15-16 age group. Heavy drinking has become the norm in our society. And we all have a role to play in combating alcohol abuse. Publicans and gardai are at the cutting edge. But parents must examine their drinking patterns so that they do not appear hypocritical to their children.