Drinkers will be able to down pints until 6am under new licensing laws to be rubber-stamped by the Cabinet today.
The legislation, which is expected to come into effect early next year, will see pubs open until 12.30am every night of the week. Late bars with special licences will have their hours extended until 2.30am, while nightclubs can now stay open until 6am.
There will be a special new licence that will allow alcohol to be served in licensed venues and nightclubs until 5am, with one further hour’s drinking-up time. The new opening hours for pubs will see them open their doors each morning at 10.30am under the laws to be agreed by ministers this morning.
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Justice Minister Helen McEntee is bringing in the most radical overhaul of licensing laws in the history of the State that will see the country’s antiquated legislation, some more than 200 years old, swept aside. The reforms are part of a wider government plan to revitalise the night time economies in our towns and cities, bringing them on a par with other European nightlife.
A source close to Ms McEntee told the Irish Mirror last night that the minister believes the laws are in significant need of reform, and so she will ask Cabinet today to approve the General Scheme of the Sale of Alcohol Bill. This will lead to one modern piece of legislation to regulate the sale of alcohol. It will aim to “support the development of night time culture and the night time economy and support the industry by reducing costs, protecting and backing our pubs and to help people to open a pub, start a venue, a club night or an exhibition space, creating jobs and enriching our culture as they do so”.
The present system of licensing is based on a patchwork of 100 laws – two thirds of which pre-date the foundation of the State. It’ll also emphasise that the sale of alcohol cannot be treated like the sale of any other good. Licences will continue to be granted only by the courts, with objections allowed from fire authorities, Local Authorities, the HSE, An Garda Siochana and local communities.
Opening hours for pubs will be standardised across the week, with bars having the option of opening from 10.30am to 12.30pm seven days a week. Nightclubs will have the option to remain open until 6am, with the requirement that alcohol cannot be served after 5am, with dancing able to continue until closing time, subject to conditions.
Opening hours for late bars will be 2.30am and a new late bar permit will be required. The conditions for a late bar and nightclub permit include applying to the courts for one, and a requirement to have CCTV on the premises and have security staff properly accredited with the Private Security Authority.
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