Irish tourism under threat from tough new laws

Hoteliers in the Irish Republic are warning that tough new licensing legislation, passed last week (8 July) by the Dublin parliament, could alienate family holiday-makers and threaten tourism.

The legislation, intended to curb the Republic's worsening problem of under-age drinking and alcohol abuse, bans children under 18 from hotel bars and pubs after 9pm, even if accompanied by parents. And all customers under the age of 21 must produce documentary proof of age before being admitted to any licensed premises.

Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) chief executive John Power called these provisions "irrational, ill thought-out and impractical", and warned: "Preventing parents from bringing their children into the bar areas of hotels, whether attending weddings in hotels, enjoying family breaks or evening entertainment, is unreasonable and interferes with a family's right to relax as a unit."

He pointed out that Ireland had been criticised for not being as "child-friendly" as other holiday destinations such as Spain, Portugal, France and Italy. He claimed the night ban on children would add fuel to that criticism and "could potentially cause serious damage to the tourist industry".

Power described as "unworkable" the requirement that customers produce documentary proof of age before being admitted to hotel bars, and was particularly critical of the fact that hotels found to be in breach could face closure of their licensed business for 30 days.

Hoteliers could protect themselves only by checking every person entering the bar area, he claimed, and this would not be possible when large numbers arrived after sporting events, concerts or funerals.

The IHF, he added, fully supported the fight to eliminate alcohol abuse and under-age drinking, but felt it was essential that the measures taken be "practical and enforceable".

However, Justice Minister Michael McDowell, architect of the legislation, offered no concessions. The aim, he said, was to achieve "a sea change in attitudes to Ireland's alcohol culture" among hoteliers, publicans and the community.

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 17 - 23 July 2003