10/09/2008

Minister Steps In To Save Confiscated Drink

A Fianne Fail minister is pushing for new proposals to spare the alcohol confiscated by gardaí under the new Intoxicating Liquor Act.

The Minister believes the apprehended alcohol should be put to positive use rather than being destroyed.

Chris Andrews TD for Dublin South East has proposed a system for the alcohol to be redistributed to community groups working with older people, or could be used for charity fundraising activities, such as Christmas raffles and hampers.

Dublin City Council is planning to dispose of the confiscated alcohol, which according to the minister is both time consuming and "an unnecessary waste of resources", he said yesterday.

More than 1,600 bottles and cans with an estimated value of €5,000 were confiscated under the new legislation, which permits Gardaí to take alcohol from underage drinkers, or those flouting alcohol free zones.

Last month Garda displayed the alcohol confiscated by their officers over the three weekends in which the legislation was in operation.

(DW/JM)

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