Parliamentary Question addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality

To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his view on the suggestion that a condition of the granting of drink licences to pubs and restaurants would be the mandatory stocking of non-alcoholic beer; and if he will make a statement on the matter?

Reply

The position is that statutory provisions governing the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol products in licensed premises, including public houses and restaurants, is set out in the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2011. While the sale and supply of alcohol products in such premises is subject to specific conditions set out in the Licensing Acts, these conditions do not currently specify that such sale or supply is also subject to the availability of non-alcoholic beverages. Many licensed premises already provide a broad range of non-alcoholic alternative beverages in response to consumer demand and I would strongly encourage all licensed premises to do so. I would, however, be reluctant to impose a statutory obligation concerning the availability of specified products on licensed premises since there may be little local demand for any such product and such a provision would place an additional enforcement burden on the Gardaí.