Irish Drinking Laws are pure b**locks

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Personally I don't think 24 hr drinking is the way to go, however I do agree that the present laws are outdated and unsuitable for present day society.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Personally I don't think 24 hr drinking is the way to go, however I do agree that the present laws are outdated and unsuitable for present day society.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