“While we welcome most of the initiatives contained within the proposed new licensing laws announced by Government last week, in response to the report by the Government Alcohol Advisory Group, there are two major weaknesses that are not addressed in the Bill that is now due to go before the Dail,”, stated Jim McCabe, Chairman of the National Off-Licence Association.

“This is an unprecedented opportunity to once and for all deal with the biggest dilemma faced by staff working in retail outlets selling alcohol, which is to ensure that all intending customers are over the legal age. A mandatory ID card is the only meaningful solution and there is no provision for such a basic proof of age facility in the new initiatives. Even the adoption of the existing Garda Age Card as a mandatory requirement, as suggested by the Advisory group, would be a compromise solution if the availability of these cards could be made more readily accessible.

“The second weakness of the new laws is the omission of mandatory training for all staff charged with responsibility for selling alcohol. Specialist off-licences already provide specific staff training but with the introduction of new provisions governing the sale of alcohol in supermarkets and mixed trading outlets, where alcohol may only be displayed and sold in separate specified areas of the shops, it is equally necessary to provide special training for staff working in these areas.

“Selling alcohol is a very serious business and staff need to be advised and trained in identifying would-be underage customers and in dealing with sensitive situations, including drunkenness and secondary purchasing, where irresponsible adults attempt to purchase alcohol on behalf of minors. They also need to have a thorough understanding of licensing laws”, said Mr McCabe.

Mr McCabe was speaking at the latest ‘Responsible Trading in the Community’ (RTC) seminar attended (today 29 April) by 60 staff from the 330 independent off-licence member outlets in the National Off-Licence Association. RTC courses are held each year for members of the Association and RTC accreditation is a requirement for membership.

To qualify for RTC accreditation, a number of criteria are strictly enforced, including:

• Completion of a comprehensive Induction Course which, not only covers legal and legislative issues, but deals with enforcement of ID requirements, liaison with An Garda Siochana and a study of the influences and possible solutions to underage drinking and alcohol abuse
• Obliging staff working in member outlets to be fully briefed on licensing laws and on their responsibilities in relation to dealing with attempts at underage or secondary purchasing
• Training staff on “how to say NO to underage drinkers”;
• Obliging all outlets to prominently display posters and materials highlighting the relevant section of the law dealing with the legal age for the sale of alcohol and the penalties and consequences of being found to be in breach of the law;
• Members are also obliged to participate in a self-policing initiative, which includes random spot checks ensuring compliance with the law.

The speakers at the seminar included:
Professor Mark Morgan, social psychologist, Head of Education at St Patrick’s training College;
Inspector John Rice, Liquor Licensing Inspector, An Garda Siochana;
Darragh McElligott, licensing law specialist, Matheson Ormsby Prentice;
Richard Barry, member of National Executive, National Off-Licence Association.