AN IRISH company has come up with a way to flout the licensing laws and sell alcohol direct to householders at any hour of the night.

The firm – which only started operations on Friday night – offers drink for delivery to households all across Dublin from 10pm to 6am.

Dublindrinklink.com claims it can bypass Ireland's strict alcohol legislation because it is based overseas, and merely distributes a product in Ireland.

They said: "The Dublin Drink Link is a Spanish-based company with a distribution centre based in Dublin. Our orders are processed through our Spanish offices and then distributed from our Dublin base allowing you the customer to purchase alcohol when­ever it suits you.

"The Dublin Drink Link only operates outside of normal off-licence hours to fill the gap in service, [which] exists as a result of Irish alcohol laws."

The company, which is likely to attract significant business despite its high prices, says it is has a strict policy to avoid minors obtaining drink.

It said: "ID is required on delivery for all purchases. Only driver's licence, passport or Garda Age Card is an acceptable form of ID."

The company is offering delivery to anybody within a 15-mile radius of Dublin but its prices may put off all but the most hardened of drinkers in these recessionary times.

Dublin Drink Link offers six-pack cans of Budweiser and Heineken at a cost of €20 while six cans of Bulmers cider will set the customer back €25. A bottle of a red Cabernet Sauvignon or a white Chardonnay also retail at €20, according to a price list provided on the company's website.

The mark-ups on the alcohol are extremely high; in some cases almost treble the price one would expect to pay in a supermarket.

The Department of Justice said it is keeping a close eye on alcohol delivery companies and the new all-night service will now come under scrutiny.

Last year, the Sunday Tribune revealed how some pubs had also found a way of circumventing the legislation, which prohibits off-licence sales after 10pm.

Patrons of the Penny Hill pub in Lucan were encouraged to "beat the 10pm deadline" by placing their order early in the evening and collecting it later on.

Bar manager Dermot
Brophy said customers would have to register their name and address with the bar, before being provided with a reference number.

Deliveries, which usually cost €3, are then made from 10pm onwards but stop immediately once the early orders have been fulfilled.