Café-bars plan aims to cut binge drinking
The battle against binge drinking stepped up today as the Government unveiled plans to encourage new continental style café-bars.
Michael McDowell, Justice Minister, revealed radical reforms aimed at dragging drinkers out of the super-pub and into European type eateries.
“We need a cultural shift in this country in our approach to alcohol consumption,” he said.
“A shift towards moderate social consumption and away from the excessive consumption patterns and binge drinking that so often results in alcohol-related harm.”
Under the Intoxicating Liquor Bill, due to be passed next year, it is hoped smaller European style bars with a focus on food would replace bigger drink-orientated super-pubs.
The new café bars would be restricted to premises less than 130 square metres, not be available for take away outlets and be much cheaper than existing bar licences.
Café-bars must offer hot meals and non-alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises during opening hours. The sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises would not be permitted and exemption orders for extended opening hours would not be allowed.
Under the new rules local authorities could also block café bars from entire areas.
Mr McDowell said modernising and streamlining licensing laws would make it more accessible and user-friendly for the licensed trade, the courts and members of the public alike.
The minister said he hoped the new rules would help reduce alcohol-related harm, especially among young people and improve compliance with laws by licensees and enforcement by gardaí.
“This is obviously a policy area where views differ, and where sincerely-held beliefs diverge greatly,” he said.
“I believe there is a need for rational debate and for constructive dialogue on how best to address the problems of alcohol-related harm in this society.”
Mr McDowell has also invited submissions from interested parties and the general public on the Bill up until May 31. it is understood the Bill could be finalised for approval by early 2006.
The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland claimed that offering more licenses defied logic if the Government was committed to curbing excessive drinking.
“There are currently 13,000 licenses in the country, one licence for every 300 men, women and children which is far in excess of Britain and Continental Europe,” a spokeswoman for the VFI said.
“The proposal to introduce more licenses and make alcohol even more accessible defies logic if the aim as the minister states is to curb excessive drinking.”
The Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2005 will repeal and replace more than 600 licensing provisions spread across about 100 statutes under the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2004.
The Bill also contains provision to penalise people with a forged Garda Age Card.
The Bill allows for a new streamlined District Court procedure for all retail liquor licences, with an emphasis on compliance with both planning conditions and fire safety standards.
It also proposes a new nightclub permit for nightclub operators that would replace special exemption orders.
