New Licensing Laws? (1 Viewer)

[Tubby Tucker]

I've heard rumours over the weekend that new licensing laws are to be introduced in the next few months. The main changes are that off-licences will shut at ten, all theatre licences in Dublin will be revoked so clubs in the capital will be closed at half two and clubs will have to finish up at one in the morning on Sunday. Has anyone else heard about this?

 

[Lili Marlene]

link or it didn't happen

 

[Alan Latchley]

Yep, and the house lights have to go on for half an hour so everybody can be served a supper just after midnight.

 

[lympog]

wow - i can't believe we're going more and more backward as time goes by!? can someone explain how this helps at all?

leigh

 

[simp]

Irish Times 23/04/2008

Government vows new alcohol laws by summer

Carl O'Brien, Social Affairs Correspondent and Patrick Logue
The curtailment of alcohol sales in off-licences and the installation of CCTV outside nightclubs are among a series of new laws to combat alcohol misuse proposed by the Government today.
Publishing a draft of the Intoxicating Liquor/Public Order Bill 2008 in Government Buildings, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan said Irish society needed to address the problems arising from excessive consumption of alcohol.
“We need to examine our acceptance of heavy drinking and the signal that this is sending, particularly to our young people,” Mr Ahern said.

Communities all over Ireland are tired of young people - and those in their 20s and 30s - openly consuming alcohol in public places - Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan "We're not attempting to stop drinking, do away with drinking or adopt a do-good attitude," he added. "We're concerned about problems relating to people drinking to get drunk, which seems to be more of an Irish phenomenon."
Mr Ahern said that drafting of the bill was at an advanced stage and he hoped its contents would be enacted by the Oireachtas before the summer recess. The bill draws on the recommendations contained in the report of the Government-appointed Alcohol Advisory Group, whose report is also published today.
Under the new proposed legislation, the sale of alcohol in off-licences will be allowed only between 10.30am and 10pm, instead of between the hours of 7.30am and 12.30am.
The draft bill also proposes that alcohol products sold in supermarkets and convenience stores must be displayed and sold in a specified area which is structurally separated from the rest of the premises. Where separation is not possible, alcohol products must be displayed and sold from behind a counter
It is also proposed to reforms existing licensing laws, which permit the District Court to grant special exemption orders to nightclubs and late bars. CCTV systems will have to be installed nightclubs and late bars and gardai will be given increased powers to object to late licences based on public order grounds.
Theatres, which current may keep their bars open beyond normal licensing hours without having to obtain special exemption, will have to apply for such exemptions in future.
The Garda will receive new powers to seize bottles or containers of alcohol from anybody who appears to be under 18 years. They will also be allowed to seize alcohol from “where there is a reasonable apprehension of public disorder”.
The draft bill also proposes to restrict alcohol promotions and reduced price sales and discounts.
Mr Lenihan said on-the-spot fines would also be introduced for those found drunk or disorderly in a public place. Legislation passed in recent years – but never implemented – provides for fines of up to €200 for those involved in disorderly conduct or who are intoxicated in a public place. Mr Lenihan said this law will be implemented over the coming months.
However, a number of key proposals from the Alcohol Advisory Group were not adopted by the Government.
These include proposals to increase the minimum age for selling alcohol in off-licences to 21 years and to limit the opening hours of fast-food outlets. Mr Lenihan said these measures had not been ruled out and would be considered again at a later stage.
Mr Lenihan said the draft proposal “is not some kill-joy measure conjured up by a nanny-state Government.
“Far from it. It is a response to a very significant problem of alcohol abuse which is leading to public disorder and exacerbating our crime problem."
On the proposal to take alcohol from under-18s, and issue on the spot fines for people to be intoxicated in a public place, Mr Lenihan said: "Communities all over Ireland are tired of young people - and those in their 20s and 30s - openly consuming alcohol in public places.
“The gardai have to have power to deal with this.... gardai have to have this power on a general basis. The normal process of arrest, charge and caution would put an impossible burden on our judicial and police system."

 

[Tubby Tucker]

I didn't see any mention on night clubs closing at one on a Sunday in that article. Is that just a rumour?

 

[Space]

I didn't see any mention on night clubs closing at one on a Sunday in that article. Is that just a rumour?

"It is also proposed to reforms existing licensing laws, which permit the District Court to grant special exemption orders to nightclubs and late bars."

I think it comes from that line, meaning no more late licenses which I take as meaning nightclubs have to stop serving at half one.

 

[7 - No tomorrow]

Dindo

Independent.ie

Nightclubs to lose late closing hours

By Senan Molony
Thursday August 28 2008
NIGHTCLUB owners are set to be disappointed by new alcohol legislation which proposes to copperfasten closing times across the board.
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern will ignore lobbying for a special deal for nightclubs in the upcoming Sale of Alcohol Bill which is due to be published this autumn.
Currently, all nightclubs and theatres that serve drink after normal pub hours must stop serving at 2.30am under changes brought in during the summer.
At present, nightclubs with 'theatre licences' -- which have effectively been abolished -- have to apply to the courts for special exemptions from usual hours every month.
There was hope within the industry that the nightclubs would be given a special reprieve, similar to that given to early houses, with a special 'nightclub permit' being introduced.
Reverse
"While the new Sale of Alcohol Bill will incorporate some additional reforms to licensing law, it will incorporate, not reverse, the changes already introduced in the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008," said a Department of Justice spokeswoman.
"In particular, there is no question of a U-turn in relation to theatre licences. The closing-time rules introduced by this year's Act will continue to apply."
- Senan Molony

 

[mickalphabet]

the no booze after 10 anywhere is fucking well annoying

 

[7 - No tomorrow]

the no booze after 10 anywhere is fucking well annoying

You should start a thread.

 

[David Kronenbourg]

i haven't noticed any difference. pubs and clubs seems to be kicking people out at their usual times. there's still as many intoxicated dickheads on the streets at closing time as before. .