Selling alcohol at reduced prices 'Happy Hour'

CIARAN_BOYLE

citizensinformation.ie wrote:

Since August 2003 it is illegal in Ireland to sell alcohol at reduced prices for a limited period during any day. (In other words, 'happy hour' is now prohibited).

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/criminal_law/criminal_offences/alcohol_and_the_law.html

Does this apply if the limited period is got to do with some event. IE several pubs run promotion during sporting events where they sell alcohol at a reduced price during the game. This would suggest to me that these promotions are illegal.

Victor

"Happy hours" are legal, but only to a certain degree. It is legal to increase price, but not legal to decrease price as the day goes on.

So, if a pub opens at 10am, and closes at 1am (not sure what the current hours are), then the prices must stay the same for the whole time OR if they want, they can start with low prices and increase the prices later in the evening. Some pubs do this after about 11pm to cover the extra costs of higher wage rates, messy drinkers, higher risk profile for insurance purposes, etc. So if a beer was €4 at 10am, it could be increased to say €5 at 11pm. they can't reduce it below the €4.

Let us say the pub across the street likes to cater to the post-work crowd and only opens at 4pm. It would be legal for them to have their pints at €3 at 4pm, increasing to €4 at 7pm and €5 at 11pm. They couldn't have it such that it is €4 at 4pm, €3 at 5-6pm and €4 after 6pm.

Some pubs may do a promotion where Beer X is €3 from 9-10pm which is less than one would normally pay for that beer. However, the pub will stock only a certain amount of that beer and not sell it before 9pm.