The Commission on Liquor Licensing will hear oral submissions this week from representative groups interested in the off-licence trade. It aims to produce a report by March.
A sub-committee on the off-licence trade established by the commission held its first meeting in December. The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, in establishing the commission, asked that it report back to him on competition in the off-licence sector, within three months of its first meeting.
The 20-member commission is involved in an overall review of the liquor licensing system and is establishing sub-committees to examine particular issues. To date, it has established sub-committees on the off-licence trade and the identity card issue.
Oral submissions on the off-licence trade have been invited from the Consumers Association, the grocers' lobby RGDATA, the National Off-Licence Association and the Independent Liquor Licensing Reform Group, which represents some of the smaller supermarket groups.
The commission has received a "huge number" of submissions from interested groups and individuals, according to the chairman, Mr Gordon Holmes. This was especially so in relation to youth drinking.
He said one of the major issues in relation to the off-licence sector was that in many small towns and villages there were no non-pub outlets for beer and spirits, which had implications for competition. On the other hand, he said, the commission had to consider whether expanding availability would promote increased underage drinking.
The commission wants to put in place a system to counter under-age drinking which it feels sure can be worked.
Mr Holmes said the commission would have to consider a number of technical issues such as whether a licensing authority was needed, an identity card system, or new planning provisions governing the establishment of new pubs and off-licences.
In establishing the commission Mr O'Donoghue said he expected quality advice from it on access to licences, the nature of the premises that could or should be licensed, and the distribution of licences. He expected the commission to complete its work within two years.
