Drinkers will be able to quaff pints until six in the morning under new licensing laws.
Pubs will be open until half twelve every night of the week, clubbers can drink in a nightclub up to six in the morning and late bars will all serve until 2:30am under new laws to be agreed by ministers on Tuesday morning.
The new opening hours for pubs will be 10:30am to half past midnight seven days a week.
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The exemption for a late bar will be until half two in the morning and 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.
Justice Minister, Helen McEntee, is bringing the most radical overhaul of licensing law in the history of the State that will see the country’s antiquated licensing laws, some more than 200 years old, swept aside.
The licensing law 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 Minister 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 - some of which are over 200 years old and two thirds of which pre date the foundation of the State 100 years ago
It will 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 Síochána and local communities.
Opening hours for pubs will be standardised across the week, with pubs 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 strict conditions.
Opening hours for late bars will be 2.30am and a new late bar permit will be required, subject to strict conditions.
The conditions for a late bar and nightclub permit include applying to the courts for such permits, and a requirement to have CCTV on the premises and have security staff properly accredited with the Private Security Authority.
It is envisaged 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.
The Minister intends to draft the full Bill, and to enact it in early 2023.
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