A drinks-industry body has warned pub and off-licence owners to be alert to the threat of under-age drinkers celebrating the results of the Junior Certificate tonight.
The Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI), has told its members to be on guard against children trying to buy drink and has asked adults to refuse to buy drink for younger people.
Gardaí will also be putting "appropriate measures" in place to combat the sale of drink to minors and any problems arising from the abuse of drink.
Assistant Garda Commissioner Mr Al McHugh, who is responsible for policing in the Dublin Metropolitan Region, has said gardaí will be running a "special operation" in Dublin which will target areas in which the Garda thinks drink would be sold to under-age persons.
The publication of Junior Certificate results leads to a "significant increase" in the incidence of young people trying to gain admission to bars and nightclubs, or trying to buy alcohol from off-licences, DIGI chairman and publican, Mr Richard Dunne, said yesterday.
The drinks industry had repeatedly called for the introduction of a mandatory national ID card system as the single most effective deterrent to the problem of under-age drinking, he added.
"In the absence of such a card, we can only urge all our members to again be vigilant to the threat of under-age drinking and to do their best to prevent young people getting illegal access to alcohol." Mr Dunne urged parents and schools to warn young people of the illegality of buying and consuming alcohol and the dangers of abusing alcohol. He made a particular call for adults to refuse to buy alcohol for consumption by younger people.
"Regretfully, we hear too many stories of adults agreeing to buy alcohol, from off-licences in particular, and then giving it to younger people who wouldn't get served in their own right," he said.
Meanwhile, the Old Wesley rugby club in Donnybrook in Dublin will be holding an alcohol-free disco for students celebrating their results tonight.
