The Government should keep existing closing times for pubs and nightclubs amid concerns that longer hours could lead to increased "violent crime", domestic violence and pressure on emergency services, TDs and Senators will be told today .
A number of alcohol awareness groups will discuss the Government’s Sale of Alcohol Bill at the Oireachtas Justice Committee.
They will also call for the retention of the “extinguishment requirement”, which places a cap on the number of pub licences that can be issued. Under current law, a licence must be surrendered –or extinguished – before a new pub licence can be issued.
READ MORE: Ireland on storm alert as Met Eireann give exact date brutal winds and torrential rain could strike
The focal point of the proposed legislation, unveiled by Justice Minister Helen McEntee last year, was that pub and nightclub hours will be extended. While last orders in nightclubs will be 5am, revellers will be allowed to stay on the premises until 6am.
Pubs will be allowed to stay open until 12:30am seven nights a week.
However, a number of groups will tell TDs and Senators this afternoon that they have significant concerns about the proposed changes.
Dr Sheila Gilheany, CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI), will say that there has been a “sudden move to increase both licensing hours and density of outlets” as part of the modernisation of licensing laws.
She will say: “There is an assumption that to have enhanced cultural experiences and nightlife there must be additional provision for alcohol sales. We challenge this view.
“Likewise, there is a view that tourism is dependent on the pub. Pubs are unique but are not central to the tourist offering and Failte Ireland visitor surveys confirm this.”
The group will say that increasing alcohol availability “leads to a range of harms”. They pointed to research in Amsterdam that showed that a one-hour extension of opening hours led to 34% more alcohol-related injuries. When opening hours were extended by an hour in Norway, there was a 16% increase in violent crimes.
AAI will also say that there is a “close association” between alcohol consumption and increased levels of domestic violence.
Representatives from the Institute of Public Health (IPH) will also express discontent about the proposed legislation.
It will argue that while it welcomes updates to licensing laws, the group is “concerned by international evidence that suggests that measures in this Bill could have some significant unintended consequences”.
They will note concerns about the increased availability of alcohol and increased consumption, as well as additional pressure on emergency services.
They will call for “renewal” of parts of the current licensing laws that dictate closing times.
The Irish Community Action on Alcohol Network (ICAAN), meanwhile, will tell TDs and Senators that it “fundamentally does not believe” the Department of Justice’s statement that the Sale of Alcohol Bill will “reduce alcohol-related harm, especially among young people”.
They will say that it “fully supports the case made by the IPH and AAI” for the “retention of the current closing hours for both on license premises and nightclubs” [sic].
“The evidence is clear, deregulation and extending hours will increase harm,” the group will argue.
Trade union Mandate, which represents 30,000 members in retail and bar trades, will say that there “exists serious workers’ rights issues including health and safety considerations at stake in any potential reform of the licensing laws”. This includes the fact that workers are “already exposed to long working hours, dealing with unnecessary levels of aggression, violence and intimidation”.
The National Transport Authority, meanwhile, will say that if pubs are allowed to open until 12:30am, it will have to “re-examine the timetables of bus and other public transport services to see whether it is possible to extend'' its services.
READ NEXT:
- RTE Room to Improve viewers left impressed and jealous of one unusual feature to dry clothes
- John Gilligan 'hopping mad' as old pal takes €100,000 from his Spanish bolthole
- Irish people fuming after The 1975's Matty Healy says they are 'simple people' at Dublin 3Arena gig
- You could get sky high electricity bill if you use these two appliances between 5pm and 7pm
- Galway pub sees hundreds queue, as drink slashed to super cheap prices
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
