Pubs in Galway closing at 1am

Seaneh · 14-08-2012 4:26pm

Sponge Bob wrote: »

ALL of them, without exception. ???

Not a peep out of any of them in public yet.

Well the meetings with the TD's have happened and the TD's are working on it.

They have also approached the district court and the super-nintendo.

My guess is they are being, shock horror, professional, and going about it the right way.

Seaneh · 14-08-2012 4:27pm

foxy_19-89 wrote: »

It's a 'she'

Don't be silly, women can't hold management positions...

foxy_19-89 · 14-08-2012 4:39pm

Seaneh wrote: »

Don't be silly, women can't hold management positions...

I forgot to insert emoticon

"how is a woman doing all of this?!"

But really.......

Once the students arrive back, anti social and other drink related issues will most likely spread to the estates dotted around all sides of the city, Monday Tuesday and Wednesday nights, putting more pressure on the emergency services, rather than the problems being focused in the city centre where they could be monitored and prioritised by CCTV, only then will it become obvious that the generous extra time that was previously given to premises was somewhat beneficial in comparison.

But only until there is a complete restructuring of the Licencing Laws in Ireland these issues will pop up time and time again. 2012 is supposed to be the year this is happening anyway, with the drinks companies having to stop sponsoring sporting events and the likes.

leeroybrown · 14-08-2012 4:44pm

zarquon wrote: »

I'm surprised at the level of outrage against the Gardai enforcing the letter of the law.

The problem is that this is a known grey area of legislation. The letter of the law has never been enforced to the point where normal practice everywhere is out of strict compliance. The established practice is that bar exemptions in most cities run until 2am on weeknights and 2.30am at the weekend with 30 minutes drinking up time. The district court technically has the discretion to allow this and the Gardaí have been allowing the clubs and late bars that purchase license exemptions proceed in this fashion for as long as I can remember.

The outrage is that years of normal established acceptable licensing practice has been reversed and it's impacting people.

zarquon wrote: »

If a bar wants to stay open, buy a license....simple.

This is the problem. Most of the clubs and late bars appear to have been in compliance and have been spending €410 per night on bar exemptions on the basis of the above licensing hours. Instead the Gardaí have been enforcing licensing hours that haven't been seen in this town since a former Superintendent shut down Salthill for good. If the Gardaí want to shut those that won't purchase exemptions or take the piss with service hours then fair play to them but in most cases normal business is being curtailed instead.

shampoosuicide · 14-08-2012 5:24pm

snubbleste wrote: »

Garda enforce laws SHOCKER!!

person missing the point SHOCKER!

Fuinseog · 14-08-2012 6:22pm

Hugh Echoing Orchid wrote: »

I've left Halo as late as 3:30, drink served up until nearly 3.

While people shouldn't be falling in the door at 1am on christmas eve 6 is a bit early. We always go to 8 o'clock mass Christmas eve and then head to our local after it for a few (in county Galway)

they got rid of midnight mass cos some people felt the need to get pissed before the mass.

Fuinseog · 14-08-2012 6:24pm

what does Fidelma H. E. have to say about all this? would she side with drinkers or the Joe Duffy audience who are obsessed with the demon drink an its bad influence.

I am surprised the Crowe has not said his piece publicly.

Rob A. Bank · 14-08-2012 6:32pm

leeroybrown wrote: »

Instead the Gardaí have been enforcing licensing hours that haven't been seen in this town since a former Superintendent shut down Salthill for good.

This new Superintendent needs to be promoted quickly to the 'Super in charge of closing doors' in Garda HQ, before she does any more damage to Galway's reputation as a great place for tourists.

The example of what happened in Salthill due to a bolshy Superintendent on a mission from God seems to have been forgotten.

"Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it."
Edmund Burke (1729-1797)

Rob A. Bank · 14-08-2012 6:38pm

Wompa1 wrote: »

Where I am at the moment they have the toughest drink driving penalties in America. 3 weekends of Auto-School. If you get 2 DUIs, it's an automatic 45 day jail sentence. If you blow into the extreme e.g. 2-3 times etc. the legal limit it's an automatic jail sentence, license gets revoked and a fine. I don't think we need that in Galway any more it's not as bad as it use to be but it would be worth looking at a tough penalty for firs time offense if they are way over the limit.

Thank God this country was not founded by Puritans !

sasta le · 14-08-2012 6:43pm

Was out in Limerick last night and the Icon nightclub was open till 2.30am the bars finished serving about 2.10am

Pappa Charlie · 14-08-2012 6:46pm

How is it the pint always tastes better after closing time?

snubbleste · 14-08-2012 6:57pm

shampoosuicide wrote: »

person missing the point SHOCKER!

How so?
Law is there for a reason.

Seaneh · 14-08-2012 7:18pm

snubbleste wrote: »

How so?
Law is there for a reason.

No it's not...

The law states 2am, the district court changed it to 1am over a decade ago because some retard in mill street had an axe to grind and it resulted in the loss of about 75 jobs and the death of salthill as a resort.

Now a new retard has an axe to grind that could leave close to 200 people out of work.

Sponge Bob · 14-08-2012 7:23pm

Seaneh wrote: »

No it's not...

The law states 2am, the district court changed it to 1am over a decade ago because some retard in mill street had an axe to grind and it resulted in the loss of about 75 jobs and the death of salthill as a resort.

The law that allows 2am extensions is more recent than 10 years old IIRC late extensions is 12 years old and Salthill died a death owing to CLUB restrictions 15-20 years ago not PUB restrictions...at the time pubs got a max of 7-10 extensions a year and took most of them during race week.

I think the judge stated they were minded not to grant pub extensions beyond 1am and that Mill Street was not involved very much...that or maybe the Judge and Mill Street together. Some towns have no extensions from Monday to Wednesday because the local Judge won't grant them.

( EDIT. The no extension past 1am policy dates from 2000 and was unilaterally introduced by Judge Garavan rather than the police because of "Dreadful Women" in Galway Night Clubs. )

You are not making a very good case there Seaneh!!

snubbleste · 14-08-2012 7:25pm

What are you saying Seaneh.. That only selective legislation should be enforced?

Seaneh · 14-08-2012 7:31pm

snubbleste wrote: »

What are you saying Seaneh.. That only selective legislation should be enforced?

No, I'm saying the legislation should be applied as the law allow and exemptions be granted until 2am, like any other city in Ireland.

Galway depends on tourism more so than any other town or city in Ireland, and sadly enough, a large part of that toursim (but national and international) is attracted here because of a reputation of good night life.

If the legislation isn't applied properly, like it is in Cork, Dublin, Limerick, Sligo, Athlone and other large urban areas, then Galway will stop attracting that proportion of tourists to the city and jobs will be lost, not just in pubs and clubs either, but in other service industries who rely on those tourists.

Also, it's going to lead to massive problems with anti-social behaviour once the town is full of students again in a few weeks.

Do you honestly think they are just going to go home to bed at 1am monday - thursday? Are they feck, every housing estate with a student population will have complaints of noise and disorder from houseparties.

Whoever the licencing Sargent is, she needs to have a large does of cop on. Same goes to the district court.

Sponge Bob · 14-08-2012 7:55pm

Seaneh wrote: »

No, I'm saying the legislation should be applied as the law allow and exemptions be granted until 2am, like any other city in Ireland.

The closing times stipulated in a bar extension are ENTIRELY within the gift of the local District court and can vary from 1am to 2:30 am as the Judge sees fit.

Also, it's going to lead to massive problems with anti-social behaviour once the town is full of students again in a few weeks.

Hmm. Let me try to follow that logic.

1. Students will misbehave more in Galway than in other cities because they must leave pubs earlier.
2. Ordinary Galway people who are not students together with tourists from all over the gaff will not misbehave, only students.

Keep digging Seaneh

Seaneh · 14-08-2012 8:09pm

Sponge Bob wrote: »

1. Students will misbehave more in Galway than in other cities because they must leave pubs earlier.
2. Ordinary Galway people who are not students together with tourists from all over the gaff will not misbehave, only students.

Freshers week is roudy at the bets of times, freshers week were the new influx of paddy and jim 18 year old who've never lived out of home before, fresh from moate, crossmolina and carrick on shannon have to be out of clubs by 1am, is just going to turn into loads of house parties.

If honestly think otherwise, you're deluded.

BhoscaCapall · 14-08-2012 8:11pm

Hopefully this backfires spectacularly, like when they "cancelled" Rag Week.

Seaneh · 14-08-2012 8:17pm

BhoscaCapall wrote: »

Hopefully this backfires spectacularly, like when they "cancelled" Rag Week.

in fairness, thay was NUIG themselves who banned the SU from organising it.

BhoscaCapall · 14-08-2012 8:18pm

I meant "they" in the angsty sense. The Man.

Seaneh · 14-08-2012 8:20pm

BhoscaCapall wrote: »

I meant "they" in the angsty sense. The Man.

Ah, right ya are, sorry about that.

keano89 · 14-08-2012 8:23pm

Is the issue hear not that there were pubs who weren't paying the extension but who were still waiting open past 11:30pm and closing at the same time as those who had paid for the extension?

Seaneh · 14-08-2012 8:35pm

keano89 wrote: »

Is the issue hear not that there were pubs who weren't paying the extension but who were still waiting open past 11:30pm and closing at the same time as those who had paid for the extension?

No, not even a little bit.

Sponge Bob · 14-08-2012 8:39pm

Seaneh wrote: »

No, not even a little bit.

Not one single pub served after 11:30 ( Mon - Weds), save where they had an extension Seaneh, are you absolutely sure.??

Seaneh · 14-08-2012 8:53pm

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Not one single pub served after 11:30 ( Mon - Weds), save where they had an extension Seaneh, are you absolutely sure.??

That's not what the issue is, so, no, not even a bit.

If the gardai were going around closing places at 11.30 you'd have a case, but they aren't. That's not the issue at all.

Also none of the pubs which were "inspected" had failed to produce an exemption. If they had they would be fined for it.

The question he asked was if the inspections were happening because bars/clubs weren't geting exemptions, the answer is no, that's not the reason.

BhoscaCapall · 14-08-2012 8:55pm

I'm not sure who loses out in that situation though. The government? Surely they'd make a nice bit off the extra booze sold during them hours, which they tax to ridiculous levels as it is. And it's not as if any normal person gives a toss whether a place has paid for a late license or not (providing they stay open ofc).

Sponge Bob · 14-08-2012 9:12pm

What I heard was that they are getting ready for a blitz on offences under Section 4 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003. Don't get insulted if I quote the law at you Seaneh, mkay.

Conduct on Licensed Premises
Drunken persons.
4.—(1) A licensee shall not, on the licensed premises—

(a) supply, or permit any person to supply, intoxicating liquor—
(i) to a drunken person, or
(ii) to any person for consumption by a drunken person;

(b) permit a drunken person to consume intoxicating liquor;

(c) permit drunkenness to take place in the bar; or

(d) admit any drunken person to the bar.

(2) A licensee who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offence under this section

Oh

(4) In a prosecution for an offence under subsection (1)(c) it is a defence to prove that the licensee took reasonable steps to prevent the drunkenness concerned taking place.

Some bars and clubs in Galway reckon a doorman is "a defence" under subsection 2(4)

and in the interests of balance the Guards will also enforce section 6 of the same Act earlier.

6.—(1) A drunken person shall leave licensed premises on being requested to do so by the licensee or a member of the Garda Síochána.

(2) A drunken person shall not seek entry to the bar of licensed premises.

(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) is guilty of an offence under this section and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding—

(a) for a first offence, €300, or

(b) for a second or any subsequent offence, €500.

(4) A member of the Garda Síochána may arrest without warrant any person committing an offence under this section or whom the member, with reasonable cause, suspects of being guilty of such an offence.

Securing a conviction under section 6 makes it trivial to secure one under section 4, trust me on that one.

What I have heard is that they are fed up of the state the punters are in WHEN they go out for a few drinks near closing time and want to change that attitude.

Pappa Charlie · 14-08-2012 9:16pm

Seaneh wrote: »

That's not what the issue is, so, no, not even a bit.

If the gardai were going around closing places at 11.30 you'd have a case, but they aren't. That's not the issue at all.

Also none of the pubs which were "inspected" had failed to produce an exemption. If they had they would be fined for it.

The question he asked was if the inspections were happening because bars/clubs weren't geting exemptions, the answer is no, that's not the reason.

Bet they will be getting exemptions going forward if they want the 2am finish and they cost money to get @ €400, guess they have to weight up cost of exemption V loss of revenue, many will get the exemption and posters will be able to have the late drink in selected venues with peace of mind, win / win

Seaneh · 14-08-2012 9:22pm

Pappa Charlie wrote: »

Bet they will be getting exemptions going forward if they want the 2am finish and they cost money to get @ €400, guess they have to weight up cost of exemption V loss of revenue, many will get the exemption and posters will be able to have the late drink in selected venues with peace of mind, win / win

They are all paying for the exemption.
The problem is that a local judge set the exemption at 1am instead of the allowed 2.30 am (2am is the norm in most large urban areas, 2.30 in Dublin and Cork).

None of the places "inspected" and closed at 1am had failed to pay for exemptions.

And Gardai get a list every month of what bars and clubs have exemptions on what night, if the bar or club didn't have an exemption at all you can be sure as **** the Gardai would be there at a lot earlier.

Seaneh · 14-08-2012 9:26pm

Sponge Bob wrote: »

What I heard was that they are getting ready for a blitz on offences under Section 4 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003. Don't get insulted if I quote the law at you Seaneh, mkay.

Oh

Some bars and clubs in Galway reckon a doorman is "a defence" under subsection 2(4)

and in the interests of balance the Guards will also enforce section 6 of the same Act earlier.

Securing a conviction under section 6 makes it trivial to secure one under section 4, trust me on that one.

What I have heard is that they are fed up of the state the punters are in WHEN they go out for a few drinks near closing time and want to change that attitude.

What relevance doe either article you quoted have to anything?
I said if clubs and bars we opening late without exemptions, they would be fined, the businesses, not the individuals, you quoted two pieces of law, one which refers to licencee's supplying alcohol to drunk people (every bar in Ireland is ****ed if that nugget is ever enforced) and the other is refers drunk people who either refuse to leave or won't take no for an answer when refused entry to a bar while drunk.

Neither have an relevance.

Crawl back under your bridge.

Sponge Bob · 14-08-2012 9:33pm

Seaneh wrote: »

(every bar in Ireland is ****ed if that nugget is ever enforced)

It is always a shock to the Galway Publican when the letter of the law is quoted to them Seaneh.

You can condemn Garavan any time you like for setting closing time at 1am in 2000, he died some years ago you see.

But there is nothing new or mysterious about it, sure it is probably even written right down on paper when the publican or club owner is granted the extension, what??

Mrs OBumble · 14-08-2012 9:35pm

Seaneh wrote: »

Also, it's going to lead to massive problems with anti-social behaviour once the town is full of students again in a few weeks.

Do you honestly think they are just going to go home to bed at 1am monday - thursday? Are they feck, every housing estate with a student population will have complaints of noise and disorder from houseparties.

I think it will only take one or two expelled from college because of the disrepute that the bring to the institution to cause the rest to pull their socks up.

And I actually think that our high population of young people away from home for the first is actually a good cause for our pubs/clubs to close earlier.

Do I like this? No. Do I like a pint at 1:05am as much as the rest of ye? You bet. But we need controls because the evidence suggests that people here have real difficulty exercising self-control.

Seaneh · 14-08-2012 9:38pm

JustMary wrote: »

I think it will only take one or two expelled from college because of the disrepute that the bring to the institution to cause the rest to pull their socks up.

And I actually think that our high population of young people away from home for the first is actually a good cause for our pubs/clubs to close earlier.

Do I like this? No. Do I like a pint at 1:05am as much as the rest of ye? You bet. But we need controls because the evidence suggests that people here have real difficult exercising self-control.

Because our strict licencing hours are working wonders so far, yeah, closing earlier will make a ton of difference.

Our licencing laws need to be changed, the way we treat alcohol is a problem which starts with legislation and ends with drunk 16 year olds on jc results night.

Closing clubs/bars an hour early will not make and difference in anti social behaviour. It will only add to it.

On top of that it will cost a lot of people their jobs and put places out of business.

Seaneh · 14-08-2012 9:43pm

Sponge Bob wrote: »

It is always a shock to the Galway Publican when the letter of the law is quoted to them Seaneh.

You can condemn Garavan any time you like for setting closing time at 1am in 2000, he died some years ago you see.

But there is nothing new or mysterious about it, sure it is probably even written right down on paper when the publican or club owner is granted the extension, what??

Garavan set it initially but every month since some gob****e or other has retained it.

Night Falls · 14-08-2012 9:50pm

JustMary wrote: »

I think it will only take one or two expelled from college because of the disrepute that the bring to the institution to cause the rest to pull their socks up.

And I actually think that our high population of young people away from home for the first is actually a good cause for our pubs/clubs to close earlier.

Do I like this? No. Do I like a pint at 1:05am as much as the rest of ye? You bet. But we need controls because the evidence suggests that people here have real difficulty exercising self-control.

Treat people like children, and they will act like children.

dloob · 14-08-2012 9:57pm

Sponge Bob wrote: »

What I heard was that they are getting ready for a blitz on offences under Section 4 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003.

Section 4? Has any prosecution ever been made under that?
Be interesting to see how they get on.

Seaneh · 14-08-2012 9:57pm

Night Falls wrote: »

Treat people like children, and they will act like children.

I've been in city centre's all over the world where bars can serve to 4-5-6 am and you don't get the ****e you get here in any of them.
Why? Because people don't all dump out into the street at the same time, people filter off as the want.

No cueing for taxi's, no long wait's for a bag of chips/kebab/bocadillo/whatever.

The cops aren't very busy either so they can focus on actual problems.

Sponge Bob · 14-08-2012 10:16pm

Seaneh wrote: »

I've been in city centre's all over the world where bars can serve to 4-5-6 am and you don't get the ****e you get here in any of them.

Thats why I'm in favour of 24 hour bars in 'entertainment districts' instead of the po faced shíte you get over an extra 30 minutes here and there in this country, or under or over reactions depending on the humour some hicko politician is in.

And if Fidelma Healy Eames is not openly backing the publicans on their fight the powa campaign ye know ye haven't a chance anyway lads.

However the average Galway publican merely thinks of the law as a gross inconvenience, just like Wesley Snipes and his tax returns.

foxy_19-89 · 14-08-2012 10:51pm

Petition:

http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/closeearlylosejobs

Sponge Bob · 14-08-2012 10:58pm

foxy_19-89 wrote: »

Petition:

http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/closeearlylosejobs

Jeez, I'm not signing THAT!!! :eek:

"Recently the Galway Super-Interndant (sic) has decided to clamp down on Club's (sic) and Late bar's (sic) around Galway City. Sunday to Thursday club hours are now 1.00 p.m (sic) as apposed (sic) to the usual 2.00p.m (sic) closing time which has always been (sic) the case in Galway. "

14-08-2012 11:04pm

Seaneh wrote: »

They are all paying for the exemption.
The problem is that a local judge set the exemption at 1am instead of the allowed 2.30 am (2am is the norm in most large urban areas, 2.30 in Dublin and Cork).

It's definitely not 2:30 in Cork, its actually one of the things that annoys me going out in Cork rather than up home in Galway, you wont get a drink anywhere past 2am and they are very fast to push you out the door. It was noticed instantly by friends visiting me.

As I said earlier I have left clubs in Galway as late as 3:30, I haven't been served passed 2am or been inside anywhere in Cork even as late as 2:30 with out being pushed out the door (except lock ins)

BhoscaCapall · 14-08-2012 11:05pm

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Jeez, I'm not signing THAT!!! :eek:

It's enough to make ya sic :pac:

Caliden · 14-08-2012 11:05pm

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Jeez, I'm not signing THAT!!! :eek:

"cant afford to pay there rates"

Make it stop!!

BhoscaCapall · 14-08-2012 11:07pm

Who is this supposed to be helping anyway, can anyone explain?

You can buy drink basically 24hrs in London. Do you know how many problems it causes? None. And the English aren't exactly great at holding their drink.

Mr_A · 14-08-2012 11:09pm

Am against the regulation of opening hours in general, but don't really see this as a big deal so long as it's applied evenly.

Caliden · 14-08-2012 11:13pm

BhoscaCapall wrote: »

Who is this supposed to be helping anyway, can anyone explain?

You can buy drink basically 24hrs in London. Do you know how many problems it causes? None. And the English aren't exactly great at holding their drink.

There's more cities in England that are the same.
Alcohol is something that if it's heavily policed, the more problems it causes.

Take a look at prohibition in the U.S. for a an example on what not to do.

Wompa1 · 14-08-2012 11:14pm

foxy_19-89 wrote: »

Petition:

http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/closeearlylosejobs

Not to be a grammar Nazi but re-word it. Especially the closing times of 1pm 2pm....it's am...Club and Pub owners aren't really a crowd that would get much sympathy either. More their workers

foxy_19-89 · 14-08-2012 11:18pm

Wompa1 wrote: »

Not to be a grammar Nazi but re-word it. Especially the closing times of 1pm 2pm....it's am...Club and Pub owners aren't really a crowd that would get much sympathy either. More their workers

It is not my petition, just saw it spreading on Facebook and said I would share it here. I noticed the mistakes too but get over it.

BhoscaCapall · 14-08-2012 11:22pm

foxy_19-89 wrote: »

It is not my petition, just saw it spreading on Facebook and said I would share it here. I noticed the mistakes too but get over it.

It's a legitimate criticism though. e-Petitions are silly enough as it is without being made by someone who doesn't know how to use an apostrophe, or the difference between PM and AM. If you want it to be taken seriously it has to be serious.

Pubs in Galway closing at 1am

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