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Addiction expert warns of 'social fall-out' of ruling

TeenELK, a non-alcoholic disco, for under-18s, took place on Friday night 
TeenELK, a non-alcoholic disco, for under-18s, took place on Friday night  TeenELK, a non-alcoholic disco, for under-18s, took place on Friday night 

A LEADING addiction expert has raised concerns about the "social implications" of a landmark decision to prosecute a Co Tyrone hotel for holding "responsible" alcohol-free teenage discos for under-18s.

Dr George O’Neill, a GP who chairs Addiction NI, a charity that provides support to hundreds of people affected by alcohol and drug abuse, warned the test-case against the Glenavon hotel in Cookstown could have serious repercussions for young people seeking alternative forms of entertainment.

And he urged the north's politicians to urgently change existing laws that are "out of touch" with the rest of Ireland and UK.

"It is very important that we educate young people in relation to alcohol and drinking sensibly. Here we have case where the police admitted the hotel was acting responsibly and no alcohol was being consumed on the premises," said Dr O’Neill.

"As many as 800 young teenagers attended these events - where are they going to go now? This ruling will simply mean they and other young people across the north will end up on the streets.

"We have a long history here of holding large dances in halls that are both licensed and unlicensed. When you think of the parochial hall dances and how tightly monitored they were, this is extraordinary."

Over recent months, there has been a social media campaign to reverse the judgement for the hotel nightclub, known as Save Club 13-17.

Current laws only permit children (under-18’s) to be allowed in licensed premises up until 9pm. They must be accompanied by an adult, must be dining and are not allowed to order alcohol from the bar.

Following Friday’s sentencing - a total of £6,000 in fines for the hotel's two directors - following an unsuccessful appeal, a spokeswoman for the Glenavon hotel said it "looked forward" to the law being applied to other licensed premises across the north.

The family-run hotel, run by the Morris brothers, has been in business for more than 30 years.

The statement also referred to a decade-old government consultation document which could lead to a reversal in the "technical" legislation now banning teenage discos in licensed premises in the north.

"We hope that the October 2005 Department of Social Development consultation document 'liquor licensing – the way forward , government proposals to reform liquor licensing in Northern Ireland' will be brought forward by the Executive, as a matter of urgency, to ensure that the legislation mirrors that of the whole of Ireland and indeed the whole of the United Kingdom," she added.

Meanwhile, a well-known Co Antrim venue, the Elk in Toome, held an under-age teenage disco on Friday night as part of a monthly event attended by more than 600 young people.

No-one from the Elk was available for comment on Friday night.