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Suppliers of drink ‘can be traced' by barcodes - Cadogan

August 17th, 2017 11:55 AM

By Kieran O'Mahony

Chief Supt Cadogan: it is possible to trace selllers.

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Businesses that supply alcohol to underage drinkers could be traced by the barcodes on the products, a senior West Cork garda has said.

BUSINESSES that supply alcohol to underage drinkers could be traced by the barcodes on the products, a senior West Cork garda has said.

Chief Supt Con Cadogan made the comment after a councillor claimed that underage drinking is now at crisis point and society needs to get tougher on suppliers.

Cllr Cathal Rasmussen (Lab) from Cobh also called for a proper policy to be developed by Cork County Council. He was speaking a recent meeting of the Cork Joint Policing Committee (JPC).

‘It's time parents became more responsible and gardaí should stop these drinking parties,' he said. ‘This is a crisis among young people and we need to get tougher with those who supply both drink and drugs to them,' he said.

But Chief Supt of Cork West Division Con Cadogan pointed out that there is a traceability element to any drink that is sold in an off-licence or bar.

‘Every can is barcoded and there is no reason why we can't trace it back to where it was sold,' said Chief Supt Cadogan, who suggested that this should be looked at in more detail.

He also gave figures for the test purchasing on alcohol which showed that out of 13 purchases from April to June, there were four detections.

Cllr Timmy Collins (Ind), vice-chair of the JPC, pointed that there is no control over parents who give their children drink. Gavin Falk of the Public Participation Network said that all alcohol products should be examined.

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