Monday, 1st March 2004

TOURISM CHIEF CALLS FOR MORE FAMILY FRIENDLY ATTITUDE FROM GOVT.

Intoxicating Liquor Act Amendments Needed

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) today urged the Government to establish a ‘Children’s Certificate’ system which would allow local Gardaí to grant hotels permission to have children under 18 years present with their parents in the bar area of hotels after 9pm, when food is being served or while suitable family entertainment is taking place.

Jim Murphy, outgoing President of the IHF stated, at the Federation’s 66th Annual Conference in Killarney, that the requirement prohibiting children from being in the bar area after 9pm, which is in place now for some six months, is creating problems for hotels catering for family holidaymakers. He called on the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell TD, to provide for this issue in the codified liquor legislation, which he plans to introduce this year. The IHF’s proposed ‘Children’s Certificate’ system could also permit Gardaí to withdraw certificates should they have any concerns in relation to a premises’ operation of the system.

According to Mr Murphy the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 provisions in relation to under 18’s is causing unnecessary difficulties to hoteliers and their customers. It is estimated that there are over 2 million family holiday visits (including some 600,000 overseas visitors) in Ireland each year and that this restriction will already have had an impact on Ireland’s image as a relaxed family-friendly environment.

“The Act has been in place for six months and on-the-ground reports from our members show that this is an issue with parents taking a holiday break with their children. Feedback from customers highlights dissatisfaction with the current provisions. They are not comfortable to leave their children in bedrooms unsupervised whilst they enjoy a meal, music or other entertainment in the hotel bar after 9pm, and this is wholly understandable. We believe they should be afforded the right to have their children accompany them in the evening if they so desire – especially in the summer months, with long evenings when darkness comes after 10pm and outdoor family pursuits tend to finish later. A relaxed pace of life with little bureaucracy is what attracts visitors to Ireland, however these restrictions portray somewhat the opposite view,” Mr Murphy stated.

“Hotels have developed extensive economically priced bar menus specifically designed to attract families and ensure that they can relax together, as a unit, in a less formal setting. Forcing children to leave the bar area even when there is food available means forcing parents to leave as well and this exodus is unnecessarily interfering with everyone’s enjoyment,” he said.

The Liquor Licensing Act, which came into effect last August prohibits children in bar areas after 9.00pm and requires anyone aged 18-20 to carry proof of age in the bar of a licensed premises and prohibits entertainment during ‘drinking-up’ time. The Federation also believes the requirement for age identification would be easier and far more manageable if a mandatory ID card system was put in place.

“Assessing someone’s age has always posed difficulties. The only way that a hotelier can prevent himself/herself from being liable to that penalty is to individually check every person entering the bar area and to refuse entry to those without documentary evidence of age. This requirement is unreasonable and impractical particularly when one considers the sudden large influx of people after a local sporting event, concert or even church ceremonies such as funerals,” Mr Murphy continued.

Mr Murphy confirmed the Federation’s support of Government actions to control underage drinking but suggested they must be balanced with measures that are practical and ensure families can enjoy holidays and other social and sporting occasions together.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Siobhan Molloy/Niamh Boylan Tel: (01) 676 01 68
Weber Shandwick FCC (086) 817 50 66 or (086) 3809191