Stop retailers selling drink to underage teens - Council told

Sinn Fein's Cllr Ide Cussen has called on Kildare Co Council politicians to request that Co Kildare actively implement the Alcohol Test Purchasing Scheme.

The Scheme, launched in 2010, is a means to detect underage sales by alcohol retailers such as shops, pubs and off licences.

The Scheme permits Gardaí to send a person who is 15, 16 or 17 years old into a licensed premises for the purposes of purchasing alcohol.

If a sale takes place, the premises concerned will be prosecuted.

The Scheme is aimed at helping Gardai to combat the sale of alcohol to minors.

Under existing laws a licensee convicted before the courts for the sale and supply of alcohol to an underage person can have a Closure Order imposed on his or her premises for between two and seven days and/or a fine of up to €3,000 for a first offence.

Second and subsequent convictions can lead to closure orders of up to 30 days and fines of €5,000.