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NIGHT TIME PROMOTERS have spoken of their “delight” following the news licensing rules are to be relaxed and said the proposed plans will make it easier for people to get home after a night out.
It emerged this morning that nightclubs will now have the option to remain open until 6am, under new proposals that will go before Cabinet today.
While venues will be prohibited from serving alcohol after 5am, dancing will continue until closing time, “subject to strict conditions”.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee will bring forward the proposals in an attempt to “reform Ireland’s antiquated licensing laws”.
The news has been met with joy from campaigners who have been working to change the nation’s “archaic” system for over 15 years.
Nightclub industry spokesperson, Ian Redmond, said it was a great day.
“Well we started over 15 years trying to get this to happen. We are delighted about this now. We have been trying to get this change for a long time. But what we need now is the abolition of the late night bar extension system which is archaic.
“We have to go to court six weeks in advance to decide what nights to open. We are in court next week to decide when to open.”
Addressing the issues surrounding longer opening times leading to longer periods of drinking and potential anti-social behaviour, Redmond said that the new system will see fewer people spill out onto the streets at the same time.
“One of the biggest problems is trying to get a taxi – two weeks ago I waited an hour €50 in my hand trying to show them I had cash,” he said.
“The more staggered the closing times, the fewer people there are at 3.15am hitting the streets. People will come out later. People who don’t finish work until 12 or the hospitality industry, they want to go dancing with friends.
“I’m not taking away from the drinking problem of the nation – the culture is reducing so we operate a nightclub with dancing and acts and talents – drinking is second to that. I understand the anti-alcohol lobby groups and their concerns – they need to go deeper – they can pick up a bottle and go home and drink it.”
Pubs
In addition to allowing nightclubs to remain open until 6am, other reform measures include standardised opening hours for pubs, with the option to open from 10.30am to 12.30am, seven days a week.
It is intended that the bill be enacted at some stage next year.
The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) said the reforms of the licensing laws will make them “fit for the 21st century”.
The LVA said it has been pressing for these reforms for years and believes these were essential to bring Irish alcohol licensing in line with European norms.
“These reforms have been badly needed and much anticipated across the industry,” said Donall O’Keeffe, Chief Executive of the LVA.
“Once the revised measures come into effect we will finally have licensing laws fit for the 21st century and for a modern, tourism focused economy.
“In particular, we welcome the Government’s introduction of standardised trading hours for traditional bars and have also heeded our call to abolish the Special Exemption Order system and provide for annual late bar and nightclub permits. This is a critical step in improving the vibrancy of the late night economy.”
The LVA also believes the extension of the times will make it easier for people to get home from a night out.
O’Keeffe added: “It will also be positive for our cities and large towns, especially Dublin, creating an extended period for socialisers to return home, instead of the current concentrated going home time where everyone is trying to get source transport all at the same time.
Hopefully that may also have a positive impact in reducing the level of anti-social behaviour on our streets.
“We are also glad to see the level playing field for pub licences remains under these reforms and that all venues operating must have the approval of the courts and maintain all the other vital regulatory standards. Those regulations are there for a reason and should not be subject to shortcuts.”
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More alcohol taxes for the Government will help all the extra expenditure…
But more alcohol abuse might make hospitals and health services busier..
@Aileen Lawlor: it’s almost as if the real reason for mup was to bring people back to the pub.
@Aileen Lawlor: it works in most other European countries with no antisocial behavior. If anything it reduces it as huge crowds all liquored up at the same time won’t be spilling into chippers and fighting over taxis etc. We’re supposed to be a modern society. Give people a chance to act like they are before hammering the government. This is one the very few good things that they’ve done
@gordon o loughlin: how did it work out in the UK when they did it?
@Aileen Lawlor: whatever will the people do without the government holding their hands, ohhh noooo….
@gordon o loughlin: people is European cities generally behave themselves with tight laws and police that are well resourced. This is going to be a disaster
@Karl Phelan: lazy comment….
@Seamus Mac: true story but what about the rest of the continent. There’s plenty pros and cons but I think it’s a positive step none the less
@Caddyshack: possibly. I’m sure there’s gonna be teething problems like a lot of places might not see it as being feasible to pay staff for the extra hours if the business isn’t making a profit during the early hrs of the morning but there are places it will benefit. The nightclub scene has been obliterated since covid and this is a welcome boost to nightclub owners and staff. Plus people should be able to enjoy nightlife if they work unsocial hrs etc. Not everybody wants to be home for the late late show with a pipe n slippers lol.
@gordon o loughlin: the uk drinking culture is similar to here. On the continent they have a different drinking culture.
I can’t see how this is a positive step forward…… Lots of positive press releases and articles on how this is a good thing but very little on the very obvious drawbacks to society? Maybe I’m missing something?
@Dec: the bedlam n fights on the streets at 3am every Sunday morning, when thousands are put out at the same time, will be gone.less trouble, less ambulances, guards, hospital required,
@Brian Murphy: I agree. Whether you like being drunk or doing recreational or whether you just like dancing, best to keep people who like partying all night long in night clubs until the wee hours rather than being out on streets all at once scrambling for taxis at 3am. Or worse, shouting and roaring at buildings and each other. And with everything being so expensive, people will probably go out later. 6am seems a reasonsble time for hardcore clubbers.
This restrictive 2.30AM law came in only 14 years ago. Its not like we are leaving the dark ages with this. Its more like we are returning to what we used to do, and it was frankly better at that time too. No rush and no scramble for taxis, nitelinks and food.
@Paul Cunningham: that would be debatable as the restriction of 2:30 has been in place before that law. They have been talking about changing night club licences for over 30 years. The people going on about how this will create massive alcoholism seem to miss that is not how alcoholics interact with drink. It is at home alone or in secret
@Craic_a_tower: there was ways around it, namely if there was food being served then they could utilise some sort of theatre licence.
Can remember numerous occasions leaving Spirit on Abbey street with the sun already up. They were leveraging that mechanism.
Never experienced anything bad leaving the venue at that time either.
There will be downsides to this but we can’t be handheld anymore. We need to reimagine our nightlife and the extended hours will allow for this. There are downsides to this but its the right call in the long run.
Did Michael mc Dowell not reduce the opening hours of off licences many years ago because we were all drinking to much and to dependent on alcohol in our lives. No they will tell another generation to get hammered
I’d love to see the pros and cons list they made before deciding on this!
@Jordan Salanger: probably not a bad idea to see how it goes so we have actual data on pros/cons. Otherwise it’s mostly opinion or using seats from other countries.
@Paolo Fandango: ‘using info’
Covid was not good to my thumbs.
“Positive reaction”. Who would have thought, in Ireland? Country is obsessed with alcohol
Best of luck to these establishments getting staff to work these hours, would want to be earning at least €20 /hr
@Brian Molloy: this is the time to put in legislation for the workers concerned that they will be paid a shift premium for the unsociable hours and none of these short shifts for the minimum wage
What will keep the punters going to 6am I wonder? Pints of stout?
@Genera L Consensus: coca cola
Who in their right frame of mind will order a pint of Guinness at 5.55am. Best of luck getting staff to man bars when people come in from non late opening pubs drunk and coked up. You would want to be paying staff danger money and have bouncers on the doors. Pubs will not make a profit unless they charge exhorbant prices.
@adrian j aungier: nobody. Because as the article says, serving of alcohol will stop at 5am.
I hope the staff will be well compensated, as if the hours weren’t unsociable enough.
Perhaps said premiseses should now be offering some sort of food to go with the later closing times.
@neuromancer: I remember the chicken curry at night clubs years ago! Those were the days!
@Elaine Malone: it was horrible and cheap but cost were. surprisingly high to the clubs. Space, equipment and staff add up quickly. Then there is the extra mess.
@Elaine Malone: so that’s what it was… I always wondered what that gunge was…. .
@Elaine Malone: you are being generous with chicken currie…goodness knows what was in it
Now that the government has done this, they need to remove the absolutely stupid law of minimum pricing. It affects the poorer people and does nothing to reduce alcohol consumption with heavy drinkers.
Off-trade alcohol sales have reduced since last year but remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.
no need for taxis then as buses and luas operating hours start when the night clubs close.
Will the chippers etc stay open?
have your say