Publicans are making a killing on teen drinking
December 1991
A number of “cowboy publicans” in Tralee who are making money out of serving alcohol to underage youths, a Tralee priest claimed this week.
His claims have been supported by the Tralee Vintners Association Chairman Jimmy Kelly and Tralee Supt Fred Garvey.
St John’s curate, Fr Maurice Brick, told The Kerryman that there are a number of pubs in the town who are selling alcohol to people under 18 and they are ruining the work that many other publicans have done to eliminate underage drinking.
“There are cowboy publicans in the town and most people know who they are. Young people can go into the pubs and get drink very easily without having to show identification,” he said.
He added that many Tralee publicans have worked very hard to stamp out alcohol abuse among young people and these “cowboy publicans” still continue to serve drink to the youths.
Tralee Vintners Chairperson, Jimmy Kelly, said he agrees fully that there are a number of cowboy publicans in Tralee and said the Vintners Association recognise the problem themselves.
“These cowboy publicans are in the minority in the town and they are blatantly disregarding the law by their actions. Most publicans in Tralee ask a client for identification if they appear underage, at least that way we are content that they are over the age limit,” he said.
He added that parents should take responsibility for their children’s action and in conjunction with the Vintners, underage drinking may be eradicated.
Supt Fred Garvey stressed that parents can play a major role in helping to wipe out underage drinking by being more aware of their children’s actions.
“Some children get up to £15 from their parents if they are going out. Their parents give them this extra money to get a taxi home, but most of the time the children walk or get a lift home and the money is spent on drink,” he said.
He said that parents are abdicating their responsibility towards their children by giving them too much money at night.
He added that there are publicans in the town who are taking the sale of underage drink to the limit but added that many of these establishments are known to the Gardai.
“It is very hard for the Garda to charge a publican for selling drink to underage people. By law, a publican can let anybody over 15 years old on their premises but those under 18 will not be served alcohol. It is very difficult to distinguish who is of age and who is not.”