Do you agree with pubs being closed on Christmas Day & Good Friday?

Dionysus

I'm not particularly Catholic - I was last at mass about 6 years ago (and then I was under pressure to go). I'm also not certain enough about things to be an atheist, but promise I will be when I see evidence to support it. If I were forced to categorise myself, I suppose it would be as an agnostic but in that sort of 'Catholic' way (thanks to Dara Ó Bríain for that!)

Anyway, I still like the idea of all pubs being closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday. It's just refreshing at a time when everything is commercialised. This is probably not a 'cool' view to have, but to me things which counter 'popular' trends are usually 'cool'.

At any rate, do you agree with pubs/off-licences being closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday?

Random

pubs should be allowed open whenever they want.

OPENROAD

Dionysus wrote: »

I'm not particularly Catholic - I was last at mass about 6 years ago (and then I was under pressure to go). I'm also not certain enough about things to be an atheist, but promise I will be when I see evidence to support it. If I were forced to categorise myself, I suppose it would be as an agnostic but in that sort of 'Catholic' way (thanks to Dara Ó Bríain for that!)

Anyway, I still like the idea of all pubs being closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday. It's just refreshing at a time when everything is commercialised. This is probably not a 'cool' view to have, but to me things which counter 'popular' trends are usually 'cool'.

At any rate, do you agree with pubs/off-licences being closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday?

Edit: Christmas Day, not Stephen's Day!

But people go completely nuts on the Thursday, pop into any supermarket.

Totally agree with them been shut on Christmas day mind.

Good Friday, think they should be allowed open if they wish.

mikemac

Pubs are open Stephens Day?

Edit, now I see your edit. If you edit and click go advanced you can change your title
I agree with them being closed both days and especially Christmas Day

Mr Simpson

I agree with them being closed christmas day, its a family day, no need to go to the pub. I don't agree with Good Friday though, totally pointless. BTW this thread needs a poll!!!

COYW

I dont really care if they are open or not. If they were open 24/7, it still wouldnt be enough for certain people. They would complain about the price or strength of drink. Anyway, I find the notion that certain individuals cant do without an alcoholic drink for 1 day, pretty sad.

Dionysus

feelingstressed wrote: »

Pubs are open Stephens Day?

Edit, now I see your edit. If you edit and click go advanced you can change your title
I agree with them being closed both days and especially Christmas Day

Thanks a million. Never knew how to edit the title. I think a poll might be a good addition but don't know how to do that.

FreudianSlippers

There should be no ban on allowing pubs to open or alcohol being sold.

We need to get the church the hell out of our government asap.

Degsy

I've heard those two days have nothing to do with religion..they are the two days that some union has agreed on since 1927!

Dionysus

OPENROAD wrote: »

But people go completely nuts on the Thursday, pop into any supermarket.

Totally agree with them been shut on Christmas day mind.

Good Friday, think they should be allowed open if they wish.

True, it's not very different to the people who order several pints before closing time or indeed who cram into the off licence on Christmas Eve. It's definitely annoying when, for instance, you've been working late but due to some law you're unable to buy alcohol in an off-licence after 10pm. It's definitely a "who the fúck do they [the government] think they are?" moment. But, at the same time on so many levels it shouldn't be one of those moments.

Dionysus

Degsy wrote: »

I've heard those two days have nothing to do with religion..they are the two days that some union has agreed on since 1927!

Interesting. Would you know where to get more information on that?

COYW

OisinT wrote: »

We need to get the church the hell out of our government asap.

?? It has nothing to do with any church. The 2 days are set aside as a result of a union agreement.

Lando Griffin

It dosent bother me in the slighest if they open or closed, I am not one to say what someone should or shouldn't do, but I think its unfair that if other religions like Jewism or muslimism wanted a drink on good Friday or Christmas day then they should be able to.
It all about multi culturism.

mikemac

There used to be three days, Christmas Day, St Patricks Day and Good Friday.
Yes, shock horror, there was a time in Ireland when pubs were closed on St Patricks Day. But that was successfully changed after lobbying.

An old timer taxi driver was telling me about, he must have been pretty old

From google

In 1927, the Intoxicating Liquor Act enshrined in law that alcoholic drink could not be sold on Christmas Day, Good Friday and St Patrick's Day.

The law relating to St Patrick's Day was later repealed in the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1960 to cater for foreign visitors coming to celebrate the national feast day.

I'd say if you asked your parents they'd remember when pubs closed on St Patricks Day. Imagine if they tried to reintroduce that

FreudianSlippers

COYW wrote: »

?? It has nothing to do with any church. The 2 days are set aside as a result of a union agreement.

Source required.

Lando Griffin

Lando Griffin wrote: »

I think its unfair that if other religions like Jewism or muslimism wanted a drink on good Friday or Christmas day then they should be able to.

Religions sure do like their drink!

But, seriously, Muslims don't drink alcohol: it's forbidden.

EDIT: As to whether or not pubs should be closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday, I agree on both accounts. Partly because, as a practicing Catholic, I feel it's respectful to close shop on the latter day. And because on Christmas Day...well, it's traditionally about being with family, so why not let the staff off too?

Risteard

They should be given the option to open if the publican wants to open it. Naturally they shouldn't be forced but if they want to open on good Friday or Christmas, I don't see any good reason why they shouldn't be allowed.

FreudianSlippers

Deleted User wrote: »

Religions sure do like their drink!

But, seriously, Muslims don't drink alcohol: it's forbidden.

EDIT: As to whether or not pubs should be closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday, I agree on both accounts. Partly because, as a practicing Catholic, I feel it's respectful to close shop on the latter day. And because on Christmas Day...well, it's traditionally about being with family, so why not let the staff off too?

Which is ironic since I believe that the guy who discovered al-kuḥl was muslim.

RockMan94

Totally agree the catholic church has ruined and brain washed this country they are responsible for alot of strongs issues (ie alcohalism, sexual abuse , catholic guilt,ect) in country any person should be free and liberal to drink when he wants to drink

Degsy

OisinT wrote: »

Source required.

Ask a barman!

admiralofthefleet

i agree with christmas day because staff deserve to be with their families but not with good friday, a dangerous and evil cult shouldnt have the power to close pubs

sasser

But what about all the hotel, shop, petrol station (etc etc) staff that work Christmas day? It's just another day, pubs should be allowed to open if they wish

Biggins

Not religious so "No".
Someone else's religious beliefs is being forced upon me and I have to pay a price for it, in that a leisure service is being denied to me!

I call that discrimination!

mikemac

Biggins wrote: »

Not religious so "No".
Someone else's religious beliefs is being forced upon me and I have to pay a price for it, in that a leisure service is being denied to me!

But you could turn that around and say you are getting a public holiday due to a religious event, Christmas and Good Friday. Well not everyone gets Good Friday off but some do.

You are happy to get a holiday but then say religious beliefs are being forced upon you

bulmersgal

sasser wrote: »

But what about all the hotel, shop, petrol station (etc etc) staff that work Christmas day? It's just another day, pubs should be allowed to open if they wish

I dont think anybody should have to work on Christmas day, the only people who should have to work is doctors, nurses etc. Really how sad that we need to shop, get petrol or go for a drink. Its the one day a year where every1 should have off

rubadub

sasser wrote: »

But what about all the hotel, shop, petrol station (etc etc) staff that work Christmas day? It's just another day, pubs should be allowed to open if they wish

Exactly, -for anybody who thinks they should be forced to shut what other business do you think should be forced to shut down on that particular day?

Some people have weird notions about pubs, like they legally HAVE to open during certain hours -but they can close whenever they want (within legal hours). So you would find that just like other businesses, the vast majority would remain closed on 25th december as there would be little business.

feelingstressed wrote: »

But you could turn that around and say you are getting a public holiday due to a religious event, Christmas and Good Friday. Well not everyone gets Good Friday off but some do.

You are happy to get a holiday but then say religious beliefs are being forced upon you

I hate the fact that public holidays have been tagged onto religious days. Good friday is not a public holiday, and many people work on public holidays anyway. I would prefer if all public holidays were on mondays or fridays. These are our 9 days, I hate the fact we have 3 so close together in the winter.

New Year's Day (1 January)
St. Patrick's Day (17 March)
Easter Monday
First Monday in May, June, August
Last Monday in October
Christmas Day (25 December)
St. Stephen's Day (26 December)

bulmersgal wrote: »

I dont think anybody should have to work on Christmas day, the only people who should have to work is doctors, nurses etc. Really how sad that we need to shop, get petrol or go for a drink

Who are the rest of the "etc" people? Where do you draw the line on what business is so essential that it must remain open -and where do you draw the line that a business is so unessential that it should be forced to close.

Is it sad for athiests or people who believe in other gods?

As a believer in the almighty Thor I find it sad that some pathetic people buy petrol on thursdays :rolleyes:

drBill

Well boo hoo hoo. They're open for the remaining 363 days of the year. If you can't find something else to do for those 2 days, don't go blaming it on the pubs.

Biggins

feelingstressed wrote: »

But you could turn that around and say you are getting a public holiday due to a religious event, Christmas and Good Friday. Well not everyone gets Good Friday off but some do.

You are happy to get a holiday but then say religious beliefs are being forced upon you

Thats a holiday, not a denial of services.
And anyway "you gave me a bloody holiday and yet you won't let me buy a drink during it!" Eh?
What sort of madness is that!

The church can keep its ruddy days and I keep my right to have drink when I feel like it!
I don't want a wacko religious order dictating the days I can/can't relax and have a drink!
Stuff that!

jkjhngk

How about have it so that company's don't close either???? let's hear the uproar if that was suggested

Minstrel27

I am against the forced closing of any business. If the landlord wants to close then leave them decide.

jkjhngk wrote: »

How about have it so that company's don't close either???? let's hear the uproar if that was suggested

But most companys can remain open if they wish to.

flutered

let the pubs open say 4-8 pm on christmas day, if people stay longer then fine them 500 euro, this having to stay closed is from another era, also the irish airports close on chrismas day, another stupid add on that needs to be abolished, this is the 21st century not the 18th.