We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
MORE THAN HALF of people think the new move to allow pubs to stay open until 12.30am every night is a good idea, while almost half of people think allowing clubs to stay open until 6am every night is a bad idea, according to a new poll.
The Cabinet approved legislation last month that would allow pubs to open from 10.30am to 12.30am, seven days a week, while nightclubs can remain open until 6am.
Venues will be prohibited from serving alcohol after 5am, but dancing can continue for another hour.
Opening hours for late bars will remain at 2.30am, while a new later bar permit will be required.
If the legislation is passed by the Oireachtas, the changes are likely to be enacted next year.
An opinion poll carried out for The Journal by Red C Research has found that 57% of people think pubs being allowed to stay open until 12.30am, seven nights a week, is a good idea. 19% of people think it’s a bad idea, while 22% are neutral and 2% don’t know.
The poll shows the public have a somewhat different opinion of the later opening hours for nightclubs.
It found that just 31% of people think clubs being allowed to stay open until 6am, seven nights a week, is a good idea. 47% of people think it’s a bad idea, while 19% are neutral and 3% don’t know.
Age groups
There is some disparities when it comes to age groups polled.
When asked about their attitude towards pubs being allowed to stay open until 12.30am, 71% of people aged 18-34 said it is a good idea, while just 42% of people aged 55+ think it’s a good idea.
When asked about the later nightclub opening hours, 43% of people aged 18-34 think it’s a good idea and just 18% of people aged 55+ think it’s a good idea.
33% of people aged 18-34 think the later nightclub opening hours is a bad idea, compared with 62% of people aged 55+.
It’s understood that the nightclub permits will largely be availed of by bigger nightclubs and venues, mainly in cities, and will not be availed of by many nightclubs.
Licenses can only be granted by the courts, with objections allowed from the HSE, fire authorities, the gardaí and local authorities. Local people with a genuine interest may also object to the granting or renewal of a licence.
Premises will be required to have CCTV on the premises and security staff that are properly accredited. Nightclubs must also have 20% of their floor allocated for dancing, a live band or DJ must be playing.
Reaction
The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) last month warned that the extension of alcohol licensing laws is a “regressive and harmful” move that runs contrary to the Government’s stated goal of reducing alcohol intake by 20%.
The organisation accused the Government of not having a coherent policy on alcohol.
Dr Anne Dee, chair of the Public Health Committee of the IMO, said that the move was “inexplicable” in the current climate.
“This Government does not have a coherent policy on alcohol,” she said. “It makes no sense that, on one hand, it is looking to extend alcohol licensing laws while on the other, it is also looking to reduce alcohol consumption by 20%.
“This move is, at best, not thought through and, at worst, regressive and ultimately harmful.
“Alcohol is an extremely dangerous drug which causes huge amounts of direct and indirect harm every day.
“There is no justification for extending licensing laws given its harmful impact on people’s health. The last thing we need is to increase people’s exposure to it.”
Justice Minister Helen McEntee, who is bringing forward the proposals, said last month that “unfortunately, we have seen the numbers of nightclubs in Ireland reduce significantly in recent years”.
“Some estimates have suggested that we only have 80 nightclubs, down from over 500 20 years ago, to 300 in 2009 and only 80 today,” McEntee said.
She also said the industry is “dying on its feet”.
The idea of later opening hours for nightclubs was first floated by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar back in 2019, when he told The Journal that he believed the laws needed to be reformed and brought more in line with other cities in Europe.
Speaking last month, Varadkar said alcohol consumption has been falling in Ireland, per capita.
“I don’t think these changes will lead to an increase in alcohol consumption. Nobody can say that for sure. But my hope is that it won’t. It will see people drinking perhaps more in a controlled environment like in a pub or restaurant rather than drinking heavily at home,” he said.
With reporting by Diarmuid Pepper, Christina Finn and Press Association
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
So fed up seeing them all over the place. Hardly a day goes by without seeing something about them. I don’t think many people really care anymore.
@Anna Carr: Probably worth remembering that you’re ‘seeing them all over the place’ because the British tabloid press wants everyone to hate them. If not for that you probably would have heard of the Oprah interview and then spotted this documentary pop up on Netflix over Christmas. Otherwise it’s all hate and bile.
@Ribeard Ó Fiachna: the biggest revelation i took from the Oprah doc was Oprah’s inability to pronounce ‘Megan’. Wrecked my mallet.
@Ribeard Ó Fiachna: pretty sure I get most of my Meghan and Harry news force fed to me by the Journal. For a couple that want to be left alone by the press they sure don’t seem to be acting that way.
I’d rather watch the Late Late show and that’s saying something!!
What I don’t understand is why the Media are so obsessed with them. If we did not hear and read so much about them would most people care, I don’t think so.
@Aine O Connor: because they dared stand up to the establishment so the hounds were set upon them.
@Max Bailey: They are part of the Establishment ,turning on your own relatives to make money is a bad look. Hurting the Queen was unforgivable.
@Max Bailey: yeah, the hounds that paid for their massive LA mansion
@Aine O Connor: money talks that’s why the Media are so obsessed with them pair !!
@Aine O Connor: the media are in cahoots with the Tories, this is manna form heaven for them and a big distraction from the strikes and chasing economy .
@John Quill: No its not Netflix is an American company and dont give two sh£ts about the Tories or any other political party Please
Looking at Jeremy Clarksons paper comment yesterday its easy to see why they jacked it in. Good luck to them i say.
@Brian Dunne: ‘jacked it in’? They have probably given more interviews in the last year than the previous 10.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: jacked in the royal family
@Brian Dunne: Plus Dim Prince has a book coming out in January “spare” which he got £20million plus the $150 million Netflix farce They can only do this for so long and will run out of material . Please make it soon
Who cares, honestly?
@Bowzer Okocha: I get why you don’t and others who don’t and even I don’t either. But loads of people do so.
@Bowzer Okocha: People who enjoy seeing the UK gutter press called out and a break from the royal family ‘stiff upper lip, must never say anything’ boll*cks called out, mostly
Its very well made..and anything that attacks the brexit press and racist uk is good
The press needs them and (despite their waffle about privacy) they need the press. Sensible people avoid both whenever possible.
100 million their being paid for story an absolute disgrace . And all the poor sick children in the 3rd world who are starving and sick .
True saying money talks !!!
Shame on that couple
I was forced to watch it! That is to say my wife watched it, I absorbed it from the kitchen. I thought they fled the UK to escape media publicity, yet all they have done since is sell themselves out to the mass media, whinge about how hard done by they are, FFS! Try living the lives of the rest of us, try working for a living instead of plastering yourselves all over Netflix and any other American news outlet that will listen to that level of B.S. Those two are so far removed from reality it beggars belief! All they’ve managed to do with this series is further discredit themselves. 0 stars! Watch Die Hard 1 & 2 for the festive season instead. Much better! Oh, and Lethal Weapon, which is often overlooked as a Christmas film!
@John Kenny: Lethal weapon still a brilliant film today
@Robert Preston: the franchise that thought a generation how to fix a dislocated shoulder and to always check the jacks for incendiary devices.
@A$AP ETH: Put my shoulder back and always check the jacks, to this day!
Hmm… more porkies than I thought.
Average audience score of 16% on RT, not for me…
@Dr. Emmett Lathrop Brown: 16% seems high though, for this drivel!
Nah, no interest in this couple’s problems/issues, have more than enough to be çoncerned about right here. I also don’t give any time over to celebs like the Kardashians but I gather they have made billions out of their fame claiming so, it’s no surprise to see another famly go after the cash. It is difficult not to be a little disgusted by the way the press seem to harp on ad nauseum. The Jeerleaders are indeed a tough lot to stomach!
Just can’t understand how people of a nation that have been occupied and ruled by their neighbours for centuries, still have such a fascination with their royal family.
Watched about 5 minutes and just felt annoyed that these super wealthy, pampered and privileged people felt the need to whinge publicly. Granted Meghan made her own money and isn’t part of The Firm but if they wanted to opt of of the royal family and go to the US ….. then just go and live happily ever after. This documentary is just voyeurism for anyone who watches it and only one side of the story.
I watched it. Bit of a swizz tbh. Nothing new. Unless you consider ol’ prince willy ‘screaming and shouting’ at Harry a massive revelation.
No, couldn’t give a toot. Let them at it, makes no difference to me.
They are an epoch that will pass soon enough. If anyone is loving this, it’s uncle Andrew….impeccable timing. Uncle Andy …another 2nd son syndrome spare who had his own 80′s scandal with Koo Stark, who ironically had more class (Koo, I mean) if on a scale rule.
I don’t have Netflix, so presumably I could not see it even if I wanted to.
Whatever problems these two people had surely there were better ways of fixing or coping with them than this
Awful pair of doses
I ticked no and not interested but now I wonder what all the fuss is about and after reading the comments here I wonder if I might be tempted to watch a bit so I can understand what all this fuss is
Saw the whole thing out of pure curiosity and I can honestly say it was the most self-indulgent crap ever.
Each episode was a whole hour of them with their persecution complex and Meghan promoting her profile all the time. Pure rubbish.
The journal censor out in force again today . Why was my comment removed .What was wrong with it This is like Putins Russia
I have read small parts of the avalanche of press over it and have no intention of watching such drivel. Car crash TV starting the royal Family of the UK, give me a break. I did not watch the weddings, the funerals and wont be watching the coronation. Why? I am Irish and they are the British Royal family, I don’t follow any royal family. So why should the British one be any different.
have your say