Irish Drinking Laws are pure b**locks

NADA

Was just thinking about this. Recently moved to Germany to live. Head to clubs here regularly and what I find great about them is that they are willing to stay open and serve beer until the last customer leaves. So why in Ireland do we have to close our doors at 2'O Clock or something? Yeah people say it's to avoid trouble and all that rubbish but how come Germans go into clubs drink about 4-5 litres of beer and walk home without any of the social disturbance you see in Ireland. Heres my theory. Basically the lack of trouble here is to do with the lack of skangers! So basically I propose that all the Irish scangers are just shot and then the rest of us can have bigger longer safer piss ups! Also it's perfectly acceptable here to walk around drinking beer in the streets! In Ireland that would just lead to trouble and I belive it is illegal!!!! I'm never coming home!!!

MagicMarker

NADA wrote: »

I'm never coming home!!!

Good, we don't want ya

Wurly

The licensing laws are totally retarded.

It doesn't matter what time you close at. All the pubs belching out their full capacity of people onto the streets at the same time as the other pubs - THAT is the problem. Bound to be trouble. Why can't they see this? Idiots.

truecrippler

Agreed, they are a load of me testicles.

taidghbaby

truecrippler wrote: »

Agreed, they are a load of me testicles.

if by your testicles you mean bags of sh1t then i would have to agree

towel401

they should just de-regulate the sale of alcohol completely. no tax, no closing times, age limits, nothing

sure for the first year there will be chaos with all the skangers suddenly consuming way more alcohol than they used to but then they will either die off or get sick of it fairly fast.

Jimbo

I dunno. Would we ever leave the pub if there was no closing times?
We need to be told when to stop drinking.

Wurly

jimbo78 wrote: »

I dunno. Would we ever leave the pub if there was no closing times?
We need to be told when to stop drinking.

Do we? Do we have no self control? Also, most people's wallets woud not be able to accommodate constant drinking.

If you could go to the pub whenever you wanted, the urgency is taken out of it and you just go whenever. But the laws now have people all getting into a pub before a certain time and drinking as much as they can while in there.

Voodu Child

NADA wrote: »

So basically I propose that all the Irish scangers are just shot..

You've only been in Germany a short while, and already you're planning genocide. Must be something in the water over there..

Holsten

I agree, kill em' all!

Fun times if I ever get in power! :pac:

Four-Too

You're pathetic! Is drinking 4-5 litres of beer what you call living?! Is drinking for 7 or 8 hours steady living?

portomar

jimbo78 wrote: »

I dunno. Would we ever leave the pub if there was no closing times?
We need to be told when to stop drinking.

boll**ks. speak for yourself, i need no man to tell me when to stop. i agree with op, i hate when i see people in court blaming alcohol. and worse, the judge taking it into account as mitigating factor!! :eek: how bogey is that like?? just take responsibility for your actions. bring back brehon law! screw this viking/brit hybrid law we have to live with! sure even britain have made 24 hour drinking legal. its my biggest bugbear about this country

portomar

Four-Too wrote: »

You're pathetic! Is drinking 4-5 litres of beer what you call living?! Is drinking for 7 or 8 hours steady living?

personally, yes its an important part of my life anyway. why is that pathetic? this is the problem, the attitude of the poster above is the same as the politicians setting our licencing laws, in short, poking your nose into other peoples business because you think you know better.

Overheal

Tri wrote: »

The licensing laws are totally retarded.

It doesn't matter what time you close at. All the pubs belching out their full capacity of people onto the streets at the same time as the other pubs - THAT is the problem. Bound to be trouble. Why can't they see this? Idiots.

excellent point.

minidazzler

The Germans may Drink 4-5 litres but that is over a huge amount of time, which is brilliant. Here it's cram in all the Drink you can before you are kicked out!!!

humanji

Four-Too wrote: »

You're pathetic! Is drinking 4-5 litres of beer what you call living?! Is drinking for 7 or 8 hours steady living?

Well at least they're getting out of the house instead of staying in and insulting random people on an anonymous internet site...

And for those complaining about Jimbo78's post, I'm fairly sure it's sarcasm. Geezm why's everyone so uptight tonight?

Jimbo

Chill out people. It's only alcohol.

truecrippler

taidghbaby wrote: »

if by your testicles you mean bags of sh1t then i would have to agree

YORE MA!!!

Biggins

Well considering that Germany is one of the top countries for Alcoholism (4,575,778 by one count), the country is not exactly a walking advertisement either for staying open 24 hours a day either.

I speak the following as a 20 year barman. At least with closing time, the alcoholics (that don't know when to stop) are given "space" to somewhat sober up if they are pushed.
The argument about the spaced out closing times is valid but if there should be closing times or not in particular - I'm for having a definite closing time myself for many reasons.

Statistics Source: http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/a/alcoholism/stats-country.htm

Also I might add that we have the third highest rate of consumption of alcohol ourselves. Open 24 hours ALONE might only make that worse!
Can you see anyone drinking less because the bars are open longer in all honesty!

Statistics Source: http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/foo_alc_con-food-alcohol-consumption-current

humanji

jimbo78 wrote: »

Chill out people. It's only alcohol.

But I like it, like it, yes I do!

Mossy Monk

I feel the alcohol laws are draconian. Pubs and night clubs should be allowed to close when they wish and I find it really pointless that you can only buy alcohol in a shop during restricted hours.

Gummy Panda

Tri wrote: »

It doesn't matter what time you close at. All the pubs belching out their full capacity of people onto the streets at the same time as the other pubs - THAT is the problem. Bound to be trouble. Why can't they see this? Idiots.

When i was in frankfurt i found it really good that everyone didn't spill out onto the street at the same time, then go looking for a macdonalds to have a fight in. Now there was a red light district near the pub i was drinking in so the german lads might have been too tired to fight.

Dyr

Biggins wrote: »

Well considering that Germany is one of the top countries for Alcoholism (4,575,778 by one count), the country is not exactly a walking advertisement either for staying open 24 hours a day either.

I speak the following as a 20 year barman. At least with closing time, the alcoholics (that don't know when to stop) are given "space" to somewhat sober up if they are pushed.
The argument about the spaced out closing times is valid but if there should be closing times or not in particular - I'm for having a definite closing time myself for many reasons.

Statistics Source: http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/a/alcoholism/stats-country.htm

Also I might add that we have the third highest rate of consumption of alcohol ourselves. Open 24 hours ALONE might only make that worse!
Can you see anyone drinking less because the bars are open longer in all honesty!

Statistics Source: http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/foo_alc_con-food-alcohol-consumption-current

Now listen here my good man, our drinking habits have kept your tap jockey paychecks rolling in so don't be getting all high and mighty when we suggest putting more business yer way :mad:

Civilised nations saunter out of the bar whenver they please, we need to get over this holy catholic idea of being home in time for nightlight

Insect Overlord

NADA wrote:

Irish Drinking Laws are pure b**locks

Does this mean that other countries' drinking laws ar impure b**locks?

Kinetic^

Biggins wrote: »

Well considering that Germany is one of the top countries for Alcoholism (4,575,778 by one count), the country is not exactly a walking advertisement either for staying open 24 hours a day either.

I speak the following as a 20 year barman. At least with closing time, the alcoholics (that don't know when to stop) are given "space" to somewhat sober up if they are pushed.
The argument about the spaced out closing times is valid but if there should be closing times or not in particular - I'm for having a definite closing time myself for many reasons.

Statistics Source: http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/a/alcoholism/stats-country.htm

Also I might add that we have the third highest rate of consumption of alcohol ourselves. Open 24 hours ALONE might only make that worse!
Can you see anyone drinking less because the bars are open longer in all honesty!

Statistics Source: http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/foo_alc_con-food-alcohol-consumption-current

Solid post. I couldn't agree more. The pubs over here are open long enough and there a various amount of early houses, normal licensed and late bars to cater for those working different hours of the day.

minidazzler

Biggins wrote: »

Well considering that Germany is one of the top countries for Alcoholism (4,575,778 by one count), the country is not exactly a walking advertisement either for staying open 24 hours a day either.

I speak the following as a 20 year barman. At least with closing time, the alcoholics (that don't know when to stop) are given "space" to somewhat sober up if they are pushed.
The argument about the spaced out closing times is valid but if there should be closing times or not in particular - I'm for having a definite closing time myself for many reasons.

Statistics Source: http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/a/alcoholism/stats-country.htm

Also I might add that we have the third highest rate of consumption of alcohol ourselves. Open 24 hours ALONE might only make that worse!
Can you see anyone drinking less because the bars are open longer in all honesty!

Statistics Source: http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/foo_alc_con-food-alcohol-consumption-current

That according to your source means 1/18 alcoholics, Same source says it Ireland is 1/20.

syklops

Kinetic^ wrote: »

Solid post. I couldn't agree more. The pubs over here are open long enough and there a various amount of early houses, normal licensed and late bars to cater for those working different hours of the day.

Im sorry but that is bollocks. There are a total of 50 early houses in Ireland. There are 15 in dublin. For a city with the population of over a million, thats not exactly a massive amount. A late bar can only be open until 2:30am as per new laws(so its not really a late bar), and the off-licenses HAVE to close at ten. I don't know where your getting your "open long enough" mentality.

I dont want someone telling me when I am allowed to drink and when I have to stop. I just finished work, and i would quite like a crisp pint of guinness before I go to bed, but at 00:10 on a sunday night you can probably forget trying to find one. The answer I will get from which ever barman i ask, if I get into the pub will be "People have work tomorrow, you cant have them boozing all night". Nice. But I am not working tomorrow and instead of boozing all weekend, I spent most of it working. Do I not deserve a pint or short when I want one?

Dragan

NADA wrote: »

Was just thinking about this. Recently moved to Germany to live. Head to clubs here regularly and what I find great about them is that they are willing to stay open and serve beer until the last customer leaves. So why in Ireland do we have to close our doors at 2'O Clock or something? Yeah people say it's to avoid trouble and all that rubbish but how come Germans go into clubs drink about 4-5 litres of beer and walk home without any of the social disturbance you see in Ireland. Heres my theory. Basically the lack of trouble here is to do with the lack of skangers! So basically I propose that all the Irish scangers are just shot and then the rest of us can have bigger longer safer piss ups! Also it's perfectly acceptable here to walk around drinking beer in the streets! In Ireland that would just lead to trouble and I belive it is illegal!!!! I'm never coming home!!!

It's not skangers, though you do put forth a nice scapegoat.

It's the basic inability of your average Irish person to decide which one should be the last one and just go home.

Ross_Mahon

Clubs only open at 2AM in some countries, Heading home at 2 is way too early! The night is only young...:(

anonymous_joe

In Argentina you don't go out to a club until 4 or so.

That's just not doable when Irish people are involved. Our mindset will tell us that we have to drink until then, then go to the club and continue drinking. We're too immature about it.

And before people chime in with 'But I can control how much I drink' I don't doubt you. I can too, but everyone knows people who can't or won't. Everyone has a mate whose a piss artist, and that's probably an unchangeable facet of Irish social life.

Smart Bug

I agree with the OP. We're living in a draconian society regarding drink laws, due to the current (usually religious) temperance/prohibition lobby groups influence on the government.

I also take these average consumption surveys with a pinch of salt. Exepnditure surveys have been acknowledged as skewed, due to the fact that most European countries categorise off-licence and restauarant expenditure on alcohol as 'entertainment and food', whereas Ireland categorises all expenditure on alcohol as just that. Therefore, our average alcohol expenditure figures are skewed upwards in respect to the rest of Europe. Is it possible consumption trends suffer the same skew?

kevmy

Personally I don't think 24 hr drinking is the way to go, however I do agree that the present laws are outdated and unsuitable for present day society.

In my opinion here is the best way to go; have two different types of licence (pub licence and nightclub licence). This way you sort out the present nonsensical method of essentially having nightclub serving under late pub licences or dance or theatre licences.

For premises with pub licences have 2 seperate closing times (say 12.30 and 2am). These premises can open during the day and are bound by essentially the same rules as they operate under today. Half an hour drinking up time means chucking people out at 1 or 2.30

Nightclub licences on the other hand close at either 2.30 or 4 am, with again half an hour drinking up time this means chucking out at 3 and 4.30. These premises cannot open during the day (say before 9) and will be given out on a population basis (certain number of nightclub licences per head of population). Clubs must have had the 2.30 am licence for at least a year before being eligible to apply for the 4am one. Further restrictions on the 4am clubs would be to not allow anyone enter after 2.30. This would mean the guys stumbling from the other clubs and pubs won't get into these ones.

Nightclub licences should also have certain ratios of dance floor space to overall floor space and perhaps a lower rate of bar length to capacity ratio. They should also have certain specific areas for stage or DJ boxes (essentially not robbing dance floor area to put them in). Nightclubs would also have to sign up to certain door policies and have a liaison person to deal with the emergency services.

This I think is the route to go down. It covers most bases: later opening hours, preserving the traditional pub, encouraging less drinking in nightclubs, greater communication with the Gardaí and training for club staff.

Biggins

kevmy wrote: »

Personally I don't think 24 hr drinking is the way to go, however I do agree that the present laws are outdated and unsuitable for present day society.

In my opinion here is the best way to go; have two different types of licence (pub licence and nightclub licence). This way you sort out the present nonsensical method of essentially having nightclub serving under late pub licences or dance or theatre licences.

For premises with pub licences have 2 separate closing times (say 12.30 and 2am). These premises can open during the day and are bound by essentially the same rules as they operate under today. Half an hour drinking up time means chucking people out at 1 or 2.30

Nightclub licences on the other hand close at either 2.30 or 4 am, with again half an hour drinking up time this means chucking out at 3 and 4.30. These premises cannot open during the day (say before 9) and will be given out on a population basis (certain number of nightclub licences per head of population). Clubs must have had the 2.30 am licence for at least a year before being eligible to apply for the 4am one. Further restrictions on the 4am clubs would be to not allow anyone enter after 2.30. This would mean the guys stumbling from the other clubs and pubs won't get into these ones.

Nightclub licences should also have certain ratios of dance floor space to overall floor space and perhaps a lower rate of bar length to capacity ratio. They should also have certain specific areas for stage or DJ boxes (essentially not robbing dance floor area to put them in). Nightclubs would also have to sign up to certain door policies and have a liaison person to deal with the emergency services.

This I think is the route to go down. It covers most bases: later opening hours, preserving the traditional pub, encouraging less drinking in nightclubs, greater communication with the Gardaí and training for club staff.

Well thought out. Well done.
Its good to see something discussed that is substantial and has been worked on process-wise.
Some might not agree with some aspects above but you've given good points and food for thought.

marcsignal

http://www.mypartypost.com/watchvideo/3030/Family_Guy-_Ireland_Before_Alcohol

partyatmygaff

reading some of these threads about how the "man" is controlling when you drink and how annoying it is that you cant stay up till 10am drinking really shows how limited this countries entertainment is, the only social thing people do is drink and when they cant they get all annoyed about it.

I for one cannot see whats the big deal with being drunk except that you waste a crapload of money, kill off your liver, cause fights and not to mention get sick all over yourself. Crap way to spend your weekends tbh.

FernandoTorres

partyatmygaff wrote: »

reading some of these threads about how the "man" is controlling when you drink and how annoying it is that you cant stay up till 10am drinking really shows how limited this countries entertainment is, the only social thing people do is drink and when they cant they get all annoyed about it.

I for one cannot see whats the big deal with being drunk except that you waste a crapload of money, kill off your liver, cause fights and not to mention get sick all over yourself. Crap way to spend your weekends tbh.

Some people actually go out and have fun too...

Biggins

FernandoTorres wrote: »

Some people actually go out and have fun too...

Its just a pity (too?) many have to have a drink inside them though, to do that.

Here's my 2c.

I have been a barman for the last 10 years. I have worked in bars in London, Vienna, The Isle of Man, Cork and of course Dublin.

The best way I can personally see drinking is 12 hour licences. A bar may open any time in a 24 hour period but for only 12 hours of their choice.
For instance, a bar that is in a business district that might do a lot of food would open at 10am but must shut at 10pm. A bar in a neighbourhood like Camden St would open at 4pm and close at 4 am. This would allow for a staggered drinking time, and if people have decided to move to another pub, the weather usually looks after them.

[-0-]

Kinetic^ wrote: »

Solid post. I couldn't agree more. The pubs over here are open long enough and there a various amount of early houses, normal licensed and late bars to cater for those working different hours of the day.

Name ten.

professore

Papa Smut wrote: »

Here's my 2c.

I have been a barman for the last 10 years. I have worked in bars in London, Vienna, The Isle of Man, Cork and of course Dublin.

The best way I can personally see drinking is 12 hour licences. A bar may open any time in a 24 hour period but for only 12 hours of their choice.
For instance, a bar that is in a business district that might do a lot of food would open at 10am but must shut at 10pm. A bar in a neighbourhood like Camden St would open at 4pm and close at 4 am. This would allow for a staggered drinking time, and if people have decided to move to another pub, the weather usually looks after them.

That's a great idea and makes perfect sense. Well done.

Tiesto

NADA wrote: »

Was just thinking about this. Recently moved to Germany to live. Head to clubs here regularly and what I find great about them is that they are willing to stay open and serve beer until the last customer leaves. So why in Ireland do we have to close our doors at 2'O Clock or something? Yeah people say it's to avoid trouble and all that rubbish but how come Germans go into clubs drink about 4-5 litres of beer and walk home without any of the social disturbance you see in Ireland. Heres my theory. Basically the lack of trouble here is to do with the lack of skangers! So basically I propose that all the Irish scangers are just shot and then the rest of us can have bigger longer safer piss ups! Also it's perfectly acceptable here to walk around drinking beer in the streets! In Ireland that would just lead to trouble and I belive it is illegal!!!! I'm never coming home!!!

Damn right. Stay over there as long as you can!! Its a great country and I love the liberal drinking laws. I worked in a bar over there for 2 years whilst I was studying there, and loved nothing more than being able to go out for a coupe of beers after work (at 2am) and not having to worry about the pubs closing, or trying to find a pub with a place to sit down and relax.
I'm sure the majority of people will disagree but I think these liberal drinking laws are exactly what we need.. Yeah it will be a nightmare at the start and would be difficult to implement, but after a while people will realise that they dont have to go out at 9 and drink as much as possible until 2 am.. Well thats the sort of phase I went through in Germany.... I know.. doesnt mean everyone would go through this similar phase....

meathstevie

David Lloyd George has a lot to answer for. He was the one who introduced early closing.

Davidius

Tri wrote: »

Do we have no self control?

Apparently not.

yoyo

The 10 o clock off lincense closing time is a joke aswell, you just buy double earlier on as a result :pac:

Nick

SimpleSam06

Tri wrote: »

But the laws now have people all getting into a pub before a certain time and drinking as much as they can while in there.

Thats because the laws aren't set by the elected politicans, they are set by their contributors, the vintners federation of Ireland. What did you think that 10pm closing time for off licences malarky was all about?

Mossy Monk wrote: »

I feel the alcohol laws are draconian. Pubs and night clubs should be allowed to close when they wish

They do close when they wish. By forcing people to drink up quickly they are maximising profits while reducing the amount of costly unsocial hours overtime they need to pay.

If a piece of legislation is baffling, illogical, painful, and generally bad for society, you can bet someone somewhere is making a boatload of cash from it.

Biggins wrote: »

Well considering that Germany is one of the top countries for Alcoholism (4,575,778 by one count), the country is not exactly a walking advertisement either for staying open 24 hours a day either.

Let me guess, the count was part of a recruitment drive for the cult of AA? Germany is also well known for having one of the hardest working and most productive populations in the world, with the largest economy in Europe, and are world-renowned for their efficiency.