Good Friday - no alcohol sales

axer

I couldn't make it to the off licence to buy some beer on Thursday (what, with their crazy 10pm government enforced closing times) and thus could not buy any Friday even though it is not against my lack of religious beliefs to eat a juicy beef steak and have a beer on good friday.

Does anyone find it ridiculus that the government can force this religious rule on the general population? Is there any chance of them joining reality that Ireland is far from 100% catholic or christian thus to force religious beliefs on people via the law is totally immoral and not fair?

I guess that is my rant done. Thanks for watching.

Stercus Accidit

We need a political voice, it was mentioned before that the humanist society is as close to that as we could join, if thats the case, I would happily do so.

Naz_st

It could be worse: when I lived over in Atlanta, Georgia, a few years ago, you couldn't buy any alcohol on any Sunday! :eek:

Mena

Naz_st wrote: »

It could be worse: when I lived over in Atlanta, Georgia, a few years ago, you couldn't buy any alcohol on any Sunday! :eek:

Used to be like that in South Africa for years. Think it's changed recently though.

As for the whole Good Friday no drink thing, I hardly drink but still object to it. I don't see why anyone has the right to decide such matters for me, it's a matter of principle. That being said, I'd never complain about it, I just don't care that much.

axer

TBH I never really noticed it too much before it is just that I wanted to get a few beers since I was meeting friends. I wouldn't have much problem if it was closed for say to stop people drinking excessively (although I don't think even the 10pm closing time makes a difference there) but they are closed solely for the religious reason which on thinking about it is completely wrong.

Zamboni

Do you know what I hate more than the off licence being closed on good friday?
The people who say 'ah it's only for one day'. :pac:

Tigger

its only the sale of alcohol thats banned

a little forethought gets around these silly rules

Galvasean

Zamboni wrote: »

Do you know what I hate more than the off licence being closed on good friday?
The people who say 'ah it's only for one day'. :pac:

Yeah, the particular day of the week that I like to do my drinking on. I mean if it was a Tuesday I wouldn't mind so much.

Galvasean

Tigger wrote: »

its only the sale of alcohol thats banned

a little forethought gets around these silly rules

Unless you actually want to go to the pub. You can't really get around that.

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

Tigger

Galvasean wrote: »

Unless you actually want to go to the pub. You can't really get around that.

religion is not forced on us by the govt but by those that vote

the vocal voting minority will destroy any party that starts to do away with the old god's ways

i took the oportunity to buy a bottkle of captain morgans spiced rum funnilly enough

what are you ment to drink it with?

Zamboni

Tigger wrote: »

religion is not forced on us by the govt but by those that vote

the vocal voting minority will destroy any party that starts to do away with the old god's ways

i took the oportunity to buy a bottkle of captain morgans spiced rum funnilly enough

what are you ment to drink it with?

White lemonade. Mmm.

Galvasean

Captain Morgan wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I underlined a bit there. Why would that be fair enough? I mean just becuase the overwhelming majority was Catholic back then why should they have been allowed to force their rules on those who didn't share their beliefs?

Anyway the whole making it illegal to buy alcohol concept is ridiculous anyway. If the Catholics are so faithful to their religion then they can avoid the temptation to buy alcohol while the non-believers are free to go about their Friday night business.

Black Swan

axer wrote: »

Does anyone find it ridiculus that the government can force this religious rule on the general population?

There should be a clear separation of religion and state in Ireland, and this flies in the face of that, making it appear a bit Christian-theocratic.

**Bad B!ue looks east 10,000 kms and raises a Bunny Day toast to all those back home that cannot sip a Guinness with their meal.**:D

stevejazzx

In Tesco the whole alcohol section was chain gated off...to the puzzlement of 2 Arab gentlemen who seemed totally bemused. Oh the irony.

studiorat

I spent the evening on a floating bar on the river Shannon. All very nice and perfectly legal, so no worries about breaking the law there!

Húrin

axer wrote: »

I couldn't make it to the off licence to buy some beer on Thursday (what, with their crazy 10pm government enforced closing times) and thus could not buy any Friday even though it is not against my lack of religious beliefs to eat a juicy beef steak and have a beer on good friday.

Does anyone find it ridiculus that the government can force this religious rule on the general population? Is there any chance of them joining reality that Ireland is far from 100% catholic or christian thus to force religious beliefs on people via the law is totally immoral and not fair?

I guess that is my rant done. Thanks for watching.

The problem is, if you remove the justification for the booze sales freeze, you also remove the justification for the holiday itself. And nobody wants to give up that.

ChocolateSauce

Húrin wrote: »

The problem is, if you remove the justification for the booze sales freeze, you also remove the justification for the holiday itself. And nobody wants to give up that.

Not at all. I respect that Catholics don't drink on this day, but no one is forcing them to. If the shops were open, an observant catholic has every right to ignore them and be sober. As it stands, not only am I being forced to observe their religion, they are too; they don't have a choice! No one should be happy with this holiday's alcohol practices.

Besides, easter is all about chocolate eggs these days.

Nodin

Naz_st wrote: »

It could be worse: when I lived over in Atlanta, Georgia, a few years ago, you couldn't buy any alcohol on any Sunday! :eek:

Theres some towns over there ye can't buy it at all, apparently....

mewso

ChocolateSauce wrote: »

Not at all. I respect that Catholics don't drink on this day, but no one is forcing them to.

They are probably in the minority anyway. The funniest thing about Good Friday is the "catholics" piling up on drink Thursday evening as if they were being denied it for a week. The best way to increase consumption of alcohol in Ireland is to ban it.

Zillah

Tigger wrote: »

what are you ment to drink it with?

Ice.

mehfesto2

It's the meat element that kills me. I was twice denied a burger in a chipper in the past on GF (I just went and got a chinese instead).

And how come I can have an egg - but not chicken.... ESPECIALLY considering so many Christians are against abortion?! :pac::pac::pac:

Zillah

mehfesto2 wrote: »

It's the meat element that kills me. I was twice denied a burger in a chipper in the past on GF (I just went and got a chinese instead).

And how come I can have an egg - but not chicken.... ESPECIALLY considering so many Christians are against abortion?! :pac::pac::pac:

It's...it's almost like this whole religion thing doesn't make sense?!

Rev. Kitchen

How come there is no thread complaining about the goverment forcing us to have a 4 day weekend as part of a religous festival ?? Seems people are pretty happy to take those days off

Like it or not we are going to be govered by a christian type law because the majority are christians ( well the voting majority anyway) and this is a democracy.

Dades

Rev. Kitchen wrote: »

Like it or not we are going to be govered by a christian type law because the majority are christians ( well the voting majority anyway) and this is a democracy.

I wonder what percentage of that Christian majority were queuing up at the off-licence on Thursday night.

Tim Robbins

axer wrote: »

Does anyone find it ridiculus that the government can force this religious rule on the general population? Is there any chance of them joining reality that Ireland is far from 100% catholic or christian thus to force religious beliefs on people via the law is totally immoral and not fair?

No. I think it's a brilliant idea. One day of the year that the alcohol crutch isn't solded is a subtle reminder how endemic alcoholism is in our society that we can't do without it for just one day out of 365. It's also a reminder to call for your friends or invite them over, rather than having to get ripped off in a pub.

I'd like a similar law for smokes. And then one for reality tv programs.

Bring it on.

Goduznt Xzst

Rev. Kitchen wrote: »

Like it or not we are going to be govered by a christian type law because the majority are christians ( well the voting majority anyway) and this is a democracy.

In that instance it would be an Ochlocracy. Although you are right, the shambles that we have and call a Democracy has more in common with the former.

Sam Vimes

Zillah wrote: »

It's...it's almost like this whole religion thing doesn't make sense?!

Now that's a radical thought if ever I heard it. I find myself wondering what happened to all the people who ate meat on Fridays before it was decided that it was ok

toiletduck

Dades wrote: »

I wonder what percentage of that Christian majority were queuing up at the off-licence on Thursday night.

A few years ago I worked in a pub (of a hotel) that would have the back door open on Good Friday so to speak... Anywho on the day, two of the residents came into the bar around dinner time and proceeded to order from me. When the waitress brought out the couple what they had ordered, two steaks, all the Auld Lads at the counter got into a terrible frenzy of muttering. "Fu*king c*nts, could they not go the one day without, bastards..." etc. It was hilarious and to top it off they didn't think it odd to make such a statement. I reckon they had been in the door straight after Mass that morning and had the bones of 7 pints in at that stage.

axer

Tim Robbins wrote: »

No. I think it's a brilliant idea. One day of the year that the alcohol crutch isn't solded is a subtle reminder how endemic alcoholism is in our society that we can't do without it for just one day out of 365.

Its not one day of the year that I cant do without alcohol. I drink very little. It is that the law is there to try and enforce a religious law which imo is completely wrong.

IF someone wants to follow christian law then let them follow it themselves - its not likely anyone is forced to drink, but don't force everyone else to follow religious law.

Tim Robbins wrote: »

It's also a reminder to call for your friends or invite them over, rather than having to get ripped off in a pub.

I was actually going to a friends house so wanted to buy a few beers to bring with me as per my original post.

Tim Robbins

axer wrote: »

Its not one day of the year that I cant do without alcohol. I drink very little. It is that the law is there to try and enforce a religious law which imo is completely wrong.

It doesn't matter if it's a religious law. Something isn't intrinsically wrong just because religion says its wrong, just like something isn't intrinsically right just because religion says so.

Stealing is also forbidden by religious law, but I'd agree with the religious folk on that issue too.

I was actually going to a friends house so wanted to buy a few beers to bring with me as per my original post.

And the scabs don't keep any drink in their house? Well that's their problem.

robindch

stevejazzx wrote: »

In Tesco the whole alcohol section was chain gated off...to the puzzlement of 2 Arab gentlemen who seemed totally bemused. Oh the irony.

...and just about the only place where you could get a drink in public last Friday was at mass. It was almost like they were doing a carrot and stick...

Goduznt Xzst

Here's a question would the Atheists here be ok if it was renamed to say "The National Alcohol Free Day" with the aim of raising awareness of alcoholism, it's effect on families and alcohol related diseases.

Is the main bone of contention the fact it is enforced for religious reasons?

Malari

Tim Robbins wrote: »

No. I think it's a brilliant idea. One day of the year that the alcohol crutch isn't solded is a subtle reminder how endemic alcoholism is in our society that we can't do without it for just one day out of 365. It's also a reminder to call for your friends or invite them over, rather than having to get ripped off in a pub.

This is the typical laughable response you always get. I don't have a problem with restrictions on alcohol sales. I have a problem with the religious connection to that restriction.

There are hundreds of days in the year I don't drink. I just want to pick them for myself. And I don't want to go out and get trollied, I just want a glass of wine with my dinner because I have no religious affiliation.

Malari

Goduznt Xzst wrote: »

Is the main bone of contention the fact it is enforced for religious reasons?

Didn't see this before I posted, but yeah, this is the main bone of contention for me.

Handsome Bob

Meh, just make sure you make it to the off-license on Thursday, and thank "god" that you have the day off on Good Friday. That's what I did.:D:pac:

axer

Goduznt Xzst wrote: »

Here's a question would the Atheists here be ok if it was renamed to say "The National Alcohol Free Day" with the aim of raising awareness of alcoholism, it's effect on families and alcohol related diseases.

Is the main bone of contention the fact it is enforced for religious reasons?

You wouldnt have a legally enforced national alcohol free day to raise awareness....

My problem with it is that I dont drink much but was going to meet up at a friends house for a few beers but could not buy beer because of religious influence on the law. I find this a joke that even though there are so many non-christian/catholic people in Ireland there are still laws that enforce christian/catholic beliefs upon everyone.

Goduznt Xzst

axer wrote: »

I find this a joke that even though there are so many non-christian/catholic people in Ireland there are still laws that enforce christian/catholic beliefs upon everyone.

I view the banning of sales of Alcohol on good friday the same way I view Christmas, Easter and St. Patricks Day. Yes I want the religious connotations to be removed or wane but I think the principle and tradition of it should remain.

Also, they aren't making the consumption of alcohol illegal, rather the purchasing of it. I have no problem with making it illegal to sell or buy alcohol for a day, but I'd prefer if it wasn't done for religious reasons, like Malari said.

Tim Robbins

Malari wrote: »

This is the typical laughable response you always get. I don't have a problem with restrictions on alcohol sales. I have a problem with the religious connection to that restriction.

There are hundreds of days in the year I don't drink. I just want to pick them for myself. And I don't want to go out and get trollied, I just want a glass of wine with my dinner because I have no religious affiliation.

I'd be the other way around. Good Friday is one of the few good things to come from the Roman Catholic Church. The concept of realising you have luxuries is a good one. And taking the opportunity for you to purchase them for 0.3% of the year, but you can still take them if you have bought them is hardly detrimental to your well being.

It's also nice being able to walk around town without the usual p*ss heads intimidating people and it's nice to know that the city, towns and area outside pubs aren't a mess for at least one Saturday morning a year.

ChocolateSauce

Goduznt Xzst wrote: »

Here's a question would the Atheists here be ok if it was renamed to say "The National Alcohol Free Day" with the aim of raising awareness of alcoholism, it's effect on families and alcohol related diseases.

Is the main bone of contention the fact it is enforced for religious reasons?

A good question. I would oppose any day where the government had a pointless intervention like that, although I certainly wouldn't be as against it as I am about the religious aspect. I do have a problem with it being illegal to buy. It simply shouldn't be the government's business. The times are sinfully restricted already.

They are probably in the minority anyway. The funniest thing about Good Friday is the "catholics" piling up on drink Thursday evening as if they were being denied it for a week. The best way to increase consumption of alcohol in Ireland is to ban it.

Yeah, the drugs situation demonstrates this very well.

Tim Robbins wrote:

No. I think it's a brilliant idea. One day of the year that the alcohol crutch isn't solded is a subtle reminder how endemic alcoholism is in our society that we can't do without it for just one day out of 365. It's also a reminder to call for your friends or invite them over, rather than having to get ripped off in a pub.

I'd like a similar law for smokes. And then one for reality tv programs.

Bring it on.

It's a pity so many Irish are violent drunken louts who think a good social tool is to describe how pissed they were this one time and who will never actually be interesting conversationalists except to other drunks. Other countries have vastly more liberal drinking laws, and few drinking problems.

Rev. Kitchen

I don't think its a religeous thing anymore im not RC but if it was put to a vote to keep good friday drink free id support it.

It really annoys me when someone comes out moaning that they should be aloud to have a glass of wine with their dinner !! Well you are aloud no one is stopping you all you need is a tiny bit of common sense You cant buy drink on good friday this has happened every year for at least the last 18 years of your life you would think you would have figured it out by now.

mewso

Rev. Kitchen wrote: »

you would think you would have figured it out by now.

If we hadn't figured it out we wouldn't be discussing it. It's no great inconvenience to me but it's no harm to ask why alcohol laws are linked to religion now. I know why they were not why they should continue to be.

Malari

Rev. Kitchen wrote: »

I don't think its a religeous thing anymore im not RC but if it was put to a vote to keep good friday drink free id support it.

It really annoys me when someone comes out moaning that they should be aloud to have a glass of wine with their dinner !! Well you are aloud no one is stopping you all you need is a tiny bit of common sense You cant buy drink on good friday this has happened every year for at least the last 18 years of your life you would think you would have figured it out by now.

Why don't you read the post right to the end? It's not about the drink it's about the reason. I object to it because "good friday" means nothing to me. If it was every friday I would put up with it as long as there were no fake religious reasons behind it.

axer

Rev. Kitchen wrote: »

It really annoys me when someone comes out moaning that they should be aloud to have a glass of wine with their dinner !! Well you are aloud no one is stopping you all you need is a tiny bit of common sense You cant buy drink on good friday this has happened every year for at least the last 18 years of your life you would think you would have figured it out by now.

There is only one reason you cannot buy the drink on good friday and that is the catholic church - what have they got to do with me and why should I be forced to obey their religious laws?

faceman

axer wrote: »

There is only one reason you cannot buy the drink on good friday and that is the catholic church - what have they got to do with me and why should I be forced to obey their religious laws?

The only reason you cant purchase alcohol on Good Friday is the government.

The Catholic church oppose the use of condoms and they were banned from sale in ireland until the 70's. There is nothing to stop you purchasing them now.

There is nothing stopping the government from changing the law on alcohol. There was nothing stopping them from changing it 30 years ago. Would there be public outcry if they changed the law? I suspect not.

Micky Dolenz

Dades wrote: »

I wonder what percentage of that Christian majority were queuing up at the off-licence on Thursday night.

Surely the people doing that are students/young people?

When I was in my teens we would stock up on beers and have a party GF. Really doesn't bother me nowadays.

I did fly to OZ and landed on GF, longing for a cold beer after the long flight to be told that no liquor for sale on GF. thought it was an Irish thing up until then.

faceman

its also against the law in South Africa.

Dades

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Surely the people doing that are students/young people?

Students are people too! Or is the so-called Christian "majority" only come from people over 30? :pac:

Micky Dolenz

Dades wrote: »

Students are people too!

Running for Student Union? you get my vote :pac:

marti8

Wow, I never knew you could buy alcohol on magic Friday or whatever it's called, that's messed up. Again, we have the State dictating a policy based on religious (Catholic) doctrine which affects the ENTIRE populous. Crazy.

Tomk1

It's that time of year so I want to being this thead back to life:

Stercus Accidit wrote: »

We need a political voice, it was mentioned before that the humanist society is as close to that as we could join, if thats the case, I would happily do so.

And what happened, all the Humanist soc ever got from the Gov is a handshake and picture opportunity, I don't think that they are a political voice, not yet anyway. They're like a closed sect.

Galvasean wrote: »

Yeah, the particular day of the week that I like to do my drinking on. I mean if it was a Tuesday I wouldn't mind so much.

very true why not make Good Tuesday !!!

Galvasean wrote: »

I mean just becuase the overwhelming majority was Catholic back then why should they have been allowed to force their rules on those who didn't share their beliefs?

Anyway the whole making it illegal to buy alcohol concept is ridiculous anyway. If the Catholics are so faithful to their religion then they can avoid the temptation to buy alcohol while the non-believers are free to go about their Friday night business.

Pubs should be open on GF and to respect the "holy trad" the bar-staff ordered to ask anyone buying a alcoholic refreshment "Are you a Catholic" if they reply yes then they can have a nice glass of lemonade, us non-catholics can enjoy a wee tibble on that fine spring Friday and of course we all would be ALLOWED to watch the Rugby match.

toiletduck wrote: »

A few years ago I worked in a pub (of a hotel) that would have the back door open on Good Friday so to speak... Anywho on the day, two of the residents came into the bar around dinner time and proceeded to order from me. When the waitress brought out the couple what they had ordered, two steaks, all the Auld Lads at the counter got into a terrible frenzy of muttering. "Fu*king c*nts, could they not go the one day without, bastards..." etc. It was hilarious and to top it off they didn't think it odd to make such a statement. I reckon they had been in the door straight after Mass that morning and had the bones of 7 pints in at that stage.

Yes that's the hypocrites all right.

The Licensed Vintners Association and the Vintners Federation Ireland are powerful lobbying groups maybe they are the only political voice maybe if the our employees "the Gov" might drop the law to distract everyone, into saying at least they got one thing right, but sense they bow to the CCL, I doubt it. Might aswell dump the middle men and put the pope in there instead.