Alcohol won't be sold across several Dublin city stores today until late afternoon.
Signs appeared on shop doors earlier this week to warn customers they would have to wait until 4pm on St Patrick's Day to purchase alcohol.
One Spar shop was spotted with a sign reading: "As per requests from gardai, we will start to sell alcohol on St Patrick's Day, Thursday 17th, from 4pm.
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"Apologies for any inconvenience."
The move is part of An Garda Siochana's public safety plan for all attending the St Patrick’s Day festival parade in the capital.
As part of this plan, gardai in Dublin City Centre are working with the licensing industry "to voluntarily control the off-licence sale of alcohol up to 4pm" on March 17.
The other measures state:
- The policing priority is to facilitate a family friendly event and environment in which citizens can enjoy the St Patricks Festivities and Public Realms.
- An Garda Siochana will have an extensive policing plan in place for all St Patricks Day parades nationwide.
- The consumption of alcohol in public places is generally restricted by Local Authority Bye Laws in most Local Authority Areas, including Dublin City Centre.
- An Garda Siochana will be enforcing these bye laws on the consumption of alcohol in public places.
Supermarkets and off-licenses across Ireland are set to be extremely busy over the next few days as people stock up on drinks to celebrate the four-day weekend.
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The public holiday means that shops across the country will have altered opening hours which will affect when alcohol can be purchased.
This includes off-licences which will not operate normal hours on Thursday and will instead adopt Sunday times.
According to Citizens Information: "Alcohol can only be sold on a licensed premises during set hours.
"For off-licences (including supermarkets), alcohol can be sold at these hours:
"Monday to Saturday from 10:30am to 10pm.
"Sunday and St Patrick’s Day from 12:30pm to 10:00 pm."
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