New 4am licensing laws

electrogrimey

I don't know if anyone's read this issue of the Dubliner, but there was a piece taking about a proposed Sale Of Alcohol Bill. I've yet to Google it, but the piece talked about how the Government were planning to introduce a new bill allowing a special nighclub license, which would extend nightclub hours, 4am seemed to be the likely time. It said it would probably be introduced this summer, with the Minister saying 'in the second half of 2010'.

This is the only place I've heard of this, anyone else heard anything?

Edit: quick Google brought up this on the Department of Taoiseach site:

"Sale of Alcohol Bill To codify the law relating to the sale and consumption of alcohol

Publication Expected - Late 2010"

And this, from the INIA:

Sale of Alcohol Bill
2010 is set to be the most important year for licensing legislation for the past decade, and will influence your business for the coming decade.

The Sale of Alcohol Bill, has been keenly awaited since the final report of the Commission on Liquor Licensing in 2003. This Bill is set to modernise and streamline liquor licensing in Ireland, in all of it's forms.

The INIA are focussed on having a positive influence on this Bill, in relation to our industry. With that in mind, we have focussed on four key elements :

NIGHTCLUB PERMIT
The INIA are seeking the Introduction of a Nightclub Permit. This Permit will be an annual application, and we propose the fees will be set at less than the current SEO system. The INIA will be setting a high standard of trading in order to attain this Permit.

Better Trading Hours
We are seeking better trading hours for our members. The terminal trading hour of Nightclubs has always been a sore topic, as has been the application of the law. We are keen to ensure that our proposals satisfy the needs of the industry nationwide.

Sunday Closing Time
Under the current SEO system, trading on Sundays must finish 1.5 hours earlier than every other night of the week, at 1am. We are seeking that Sunday be treated the same as every other night of the week. The age old argument of absenteeism on Mondays does not reflect current work patterns and trends.

Entertainment
Uniquely, Nightclubs primary function, and core unique selling point, is the provision of entertainment through music, performances and dancing. The sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises is secondary. We are seeking that Nightclubs should be allowed entertain their customers while they are legally on the premises, up to and including finishing their drinks.

The Nightclub Permit will for the first time in Irish Law define the attributes of a Nightclub. If you would like more information on the above, please feel free to contact us.

If you would like to give your Nightclub Business a voice, and Play your Part in bringing about the above changes, please contact us about membership, details below.

Electrogrimey Re-edit: A worthy use of my 2000th post I think

Jev/N

Yeh I saw the cover of Dubliner, someone stuck a jpeg on facebook but didn't actually get to read the article.

I can see this taking a lot longer than they say it will as with the last Intoxicating Liquor Bill (now Act) of 2008, plenty of other 'more important' issues arose around the same time and it was always the last one to get attention.

A good argument was made that you could keep the clubs open very late but close the bars earlier, allowing those interested in the music to stay on and enjoy and the rest to fcuk off - this would be preferable for electronic music clubs allowing the other commercial ones to empty, because TBH most are just there for the booze

es-cee

sounds good if it goes ahead, it will be kinda like the early 90s again in a way with the longer opening hours. none of the clubs back then sold alcohol which is probably why they were alowd to stay open all night.
anyway nice bit of info man, gonna google it now meself;)

Zascar

Oh please please please let it be true.

I'm sure the giveusthenight lads will be all over it.

electrogrimey

Zascar wrote: »

Oh please please please let it be true.

I'm sure the giveusthenight lads will be all over it.

Well the proposal is true, so it's definitely going to be discussed - it's on the agenda on the Taoiseach's Website or whatever it is. With the way Ireland's run, I can it being the publicans who decide what happens, and they're going to want later opening, so it should happen. Only thing is how soon, could take a good year or two.

SEANYBOY1

They should do what they have in Barcelona, vending machines throughout the city with 'cans of beer' in them', oh hang on its Dublin we are talkin about right:mad:

jonnny68

4am still not that late but a slight improvement i suppose.

g5fd6ow0hseima

beggars cant be choosers.

To be honest if it was even pushed on until 3.30 id take that.

joker77

4am is a good start, I'd be happy with that for a club for now.

2.30 is beyond a joke at this stage

BigDaddyCan

joker77 wrote: »

4am is a good start, I'd be happy with that for a club for now.

2.30 is beyond a joke at this stage

90% of clubs in Cork are a 2 o clock job its a ****in joke, just as people are starting to have a good time, the music is peaking, the really drunk people that aren't that interested in the music have ****ed off and you could go on til dawn, then the music stops and your shuffled out onto the busy streets fighting to get a cab or a burger!

EuskalHerria

Jev/N wrote: »

A good argument was made that you could keep the clubs open very late but close the bars earlier, allowing those interested in the music to stay on and enjoy and the rest to fcuk off - this would be preferable for electronic music clubs allowing the other commercial ones to empty, because TBH most are just there for the booze

That instantly seemed like a very good idea, but that only addresses the problem of trying to eradicate binge culture. The reality is there would be little to no interest from nightclubs to shut bars early, as that is where most of their money is made. They are hardly going to continue to pay the likes of bouncers and a DJ when it starts eating into their profit. Obviously there would be a select few clubs that would be different but to say they would be few and far between would under sell it. A good idea but it porbalby couldn't happen for most nightclubs, unfortunately.

Opening hours being extended to 4am would be a great idea. It wouldn't have people spilling on to the streets on a scale that exists now, and that would benefit so many areas like Garda resources and A&E, while also getting rid of the mindset that once in a nightclub theirs a short timer counting down to when you have to finish drinking, so try and fit as much in before that. Knowing clubs are open till 4 will surely see people, admittedly not a majority, pace themselves more.

Purely musical I'd love it. the thought of being able to continue on with music till later than half 2 is a great prospect. The way modern politics seems to work these days though it will probably sit on the desk of those involved in changing licensing laws until it suits them to play that card. It could be a while yet but wouldn't be shocked to see it before the end of the year, if it is to happen. It could be a good thing for the failing government to get behind to try and get some positive light when anti social behaviour figures drop and resources are inevitably freed up.

nachoman

electrogrimey wrote: »

I don't know if anyone's read this issue of the Dubliner, but there was a piece taking about a proposed Sale Of Alcohol Bill. I've yet to Google it, but the piece talked about how the Government were planning to introduce a new bill allowing a special nighclub license, which would extend nightclub hours, 4am seemed to be the likely time. It said it would probably be introduced this summer, with the Minister saying 'in the second half of 2010'.

This is the only place I've heard of this, anyone else heard anything?

Edit: quick Google brought up this on the Department of Taoiseach site:



And this, from the INIA:



Electrogrimey Re-edit: A worthy use of my 2000th post I think

Do you think they'll have the off licenses open roughly round this time as well or maybe till 12. or 1?

electrogrimey

nachoman wrote: »

Do you think they'll have the off licenses open roughly round this time as well or maybe till 12. or 1?

Nobody has any idea yet, the Bill is i only proposed. It can only be assumed that it'll be passed, and the changes will be the ones that the publicans want brought in, so I'd assume it'll be later off-licences, and later bar serving times - which will mean later opening times. The INIA will lobby for closer to what the people on this forum want, but I dunno what'll happen.

nachoman

electrogrimey wrote: »

Nobody has any idea yet, the Bill is i only proposed. It can only be assumed that it'll be passed, and the changes will be the ones that the publicans want brought in, so I'd assume it'll be later off-licences, and later bar serving times - which will mean later opening times. The INIA will lobby for closer to what the people on this forum want, but I dunno what'll happen.

Why cant they have all night liqeur stores like they do in America, is the catholic church still in charge?

nachoman

nachoman wrote: »

Why cant they have all night liqeur stores like they do in America, is the catholic church still in charge?

1. Not sure the Catholic Church has a stance on club opening hours.

2. Are you saying why can't we do things like in America, where religion wields no influence?

electrogrimey

nachoman wrote: »

Why cant they have all night liqeur stores like they do in America, is the catholic church still in charge?

We don't drink like Americans. We drink better.

es-cee

this country is a joke wen it comes to licencing laws and always has been, altho the church no longer run things the way they did back in the 50s & 60s they still hold alot of influence over government decissions. we'll have to just hope we get this little step in the right direction and slowly build on it because at the min the clubbin scene here is an utter farce nowadays compared withe the 90s and even early 00s.

g5fd6ow0hseima

electrogrimey wrote: »

We don't drink like Americans. We drink better.

They can dance though,

EuskalHerria

Trust me I'd be one of the first to point out how secular this state is in 2010, but I don't think the influence of the catholic church is to blame for bad licensing laws.
Binge culture is a big thing for the government but they've gone about trying to fix it arse ways. They think off licenses and clubs closing early will sort it, it won't and you can see that most nights of the week and especially at weekends.
The quicker the government realise that there isn't a quick fix in the way of closing off licenses and clubs early the sooner we can actually move on to a proper debate and get clubs and off licenses open later.

jonnny68

Lennox Lazy Garlic wrote: »

beggars cant be choosers.

To be honest if it was even pushed on until 3.30 id take that.

suppose im spoiled for choice with some clubs in Leeds and Manchester opening until 8am :cool:

jonnny68

Lennox Lazy Garlic wrote: »

They can dance though,

Americans dance your joking right;)

billybigunz

The country is run by ignorant bog warriors for ignorant bog warriors. Dublin needs to have directly elected represenatives and its own laws like New York.

jonnny68

billybigunz wrote: »

The country is run by ignorant bog warriors for ignorant bog warriors. Dublin needs to have directly elected represenatives and its own laws like New York.

Spot on there mate, in fact id go one further and have Dublin as a seperate Republic from the rest of Ireland

gsparx

nachoman wrote: »

Why cant they have all night liqeur stores like they do in America, is the catholic church still in charge?

Most states have strict laws regarding alcohol purchase. Nevada is 24 hours all right but most other states have a moratorium.
In California it's illegal to sell alcohol anywhere between 2 and 6am.
The clubs stay open though. The all night ones start serving again at 6.

jimi_t2

gsparx wrote: »

Most states have strict laws regarding alcohol purchase. Nevada is 24 hours all right but most other states have a moratorium.
In California it's illegal to sell alcohol anywhere between 2 and 6am.
The clubs stay open though. The all night ones start serving again at 6.

Most counties actually have such laws. Large tracts of the bible belt are effectively the same since prohibition came in - you'll find many completely 'dry' counties or townships.

g5fd6ow0hseima

My mate who lives in North Carolina lives only 20 minutes from a dry county. It's not just the bible belt. I think they're quite common across rural america.

billybigunz

billybigunz wrote: »

The country is run by ignorant bog warriors for ignorant bog warriors. Dublin needs to have directly elected represenatives and its own laws like New York.

Bring Back Bertie!

nachoman

Deleted User wrote: »

1. Not sure the Catholic Church has a stance on club opening hours.

2. Are you saying why can't we do things like in America, where religion wields no influence?

point taken.

SEANYBOY1

jonnny68 wrote: »

Spot on there mate, in fact id go one further and have Dublin as a seperate Republic from the rest of Ireland

Bring back the Pale,is that what you mean and sure while we are at it rebuild the city walls:D

jonnny68

Deleted User wrote: »

Bring Back Bertie!

The Teflon Don himself, serial womaniser and legit gangster

jonnny68

SEANYBOY1 wrote: »

Bring back the Pale,is that what you mean and sure while we are at it rebuild the city walls:D

great idea remember that spoof video the culchie control panel with a young looking Ryan Turbridy presenting it.. vintage stuff, cant find it anywhere:D