Sir, - We are a group of Austrian students aged 16 to 18. Our task is to improve our English and to get to know Irish culture and meet local people.
We are really enjoying our time here in Ireland, but there is one major problem: we are not allowed to enter most pubs, which makes it really hard to socialise with the locals. The reason is that we are prohibited from drinking alcohol before the age of 18, but to consume alcohol in most EU countries you only have to be 16. Why is this if Ireland is a member of the European Union?
Even if we don't want to consume alcohol we are still denied access to pubs, which is sad because we do want to experience the craic which we've heard so much about. Unfortunately there are no alternatives for young people. There have been quite a few evenings when we've been at a loss for something to do. Any suggestions? - Yours, etc., Peter Peretti,
Markus Foltin,
Students of Kollegium Kalksburg,
Vienna,
Austria,
c/o Shankill,
Co Dublin.