Pubs in Galway closing at 1am

Seaneh

Sponge Bob wrote: »

ALL of them, without exception. ???

Not a peep out of any of them in public yet.

Well the meetings with the TD's have happened and the TD's are working on it.

They have also approached the district court and the super-nintendo.

My guess is they are being, shock horror, professional, and going about it the right way.

Seaneh

foxy_19-89 wrote: »

It's a 'she'

Don't be silly, women can't hold management positions...

foxy_19-89

Seaneh wrote: »

Don't be silly, women can't hold management positions...

I forgot to insert emoticon

"how is a woman doing all of this?!"

But really.......

Once the students arrive back, anti social and other drink related issues will most likely spread to the estates dotted around all sides of the city, Monday Tuesday and Wednesday nights, putting more pressure on the emergency services, rather than the problems being focused in the city centre where they could be monitored and prioritised by CCTV, only then will it become obvious that the generous extra time that was previously given to premises was somewhat beneficial in comparison.

But only until there is a complete restructuring of the Licencing Laws in Ireland these issues will pop up time and time again. 2012 is supposed to be the year this is happening anyway, with the drinks companies having to stop sponsoring sporting events and the likes.

leeroybrown

zarquon wrote: »

I'm surprised at the level of outrage against the Gardai enforcing the letter of the law.

The problem is that this is a known grey area of legislation. The letter of the law has never been enforced to the point where normal practice everywhere is out of strict compliance. The established practice is that bar exemptions in most cities run until 2am on weeknights and 2.30am at the weekend with 30 minutes drinking up time. The district court technically has the discretion to allow this and the Gardaí have been allowing the clubs and late bars that purchase license exemptions proceed in this fashion for as long as I can remember.

The outrage is that years of normal established acceptable licensing practice has been reversed and it's impacting people.

zarquon wrote: »

If a bar wants to stay open, buy a license....simple.

This is the problem. Most of the clubs and late bars appear to have been in compliance and have been spending €410 per night on bar exemptions on the basis of the above licensing hours. Instead the Gardaí have been enforcing licensing hours that haven't been seen in this town since a former Superintendent shut down Salthill for good. If the Gardaí want to shut those that won't purchase exemptions or take the piss with service hours then fair play to them but in most cases normal business is being curtailed instead.

shampoosuicide

snubbleste wrote: »

Garda enforce laws SHOCKER!!

person missing the point SHOCKER!

Fuinseog

Hugh Echoing Orchid wrote: »

I've left Halo as late as 3:30, drink served up until nearly 3.



While people shouldn't be falling in the door at 1am on christmas eve 6 is a bit early. We always go to 8 o'clock mass Christmas eve and then head to our local after it for a few (in county Galway)

they got rid of midnight mass cos some people felt the need to get pissed before the mass.

Fuinseog

what does Fidelma H. E. have to say about all this? would she side with drinkers or the Joe Duffy audience who are obsessed with the demon drink an its bad influence.

I am surprised the Crowe has not said his piece publicly.

Rob A. Bank

leeroybrown wrote: »

Instead the Gardaí have been enforcing licensing hours that haven't been seen in this town since a former Superintendent shut down Salthill for good.

This new Superintendent needs to be promoted quickly to the 'Super in charge of closing doors' in Garda HQ, before she does any more damage to Galway's reputation as a great place for tourists.

The example of what happened in Salthill due to a bolshy Superintendent on a mission from God seems to have been forgotten.

"Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it."
Edmund Burke (1729-1797)

Rob A. Bank

Wompa1 wrote: »

Where I am at the moment they have the toughest drink driving penalties in America. 3 weekends of Auto-School. If you get 2 DUIs, it's an automatic 45 day jail sentence. If you blow into the extreme e.g. 2-3 times etc. the legal limit it's an automatic jail sentence, license gets revoked and a fine. I don't think we need that in Galway any more it's not as bad as it use to be but it would be worth looking at a tough penalty for firs time offense if they are way over the limit.

Thank God this country was not founded by Puritans !

sasta le

Was out in Limerick last night and the Icon nightclub was open till 2.30am the bars finished serving about 2.10am

Pappa Charlie

How is it the pint always tastes better after closing time?

snubbleste

shampoosuicide wrote: »

person missing the point SHOCKER!

How so?
Law is there for a reason.

Seaneh

snubbleste wrote: »

How so?
Law is there for a reason.

No it's not...

The law states 2am, the district court changed it to 1am over a decade ago because some retard in mill street had an axe to grind and it resulted in the loss of about 75 jobs and the death of salthill as a resort.

Now a new retard has an axe to grind that could leave close to 200 people out of work.

Sponge Bob

Seaneh wrote: »

No it's not...

The law states 2am, the district court changed it to 1am over a decade ago because some retard in mill street had an axe to grind and it resulted in the loss of about 75 jobs and the death of salthill as a resort.

The law that allows 2am extensions is more recent than 10 years old IIRC late extensions is 12 years old and Salthill died a death owing to CLUB restrictions 15-20 years ago not PUB restrictions...at the time pubs got a max of 7-10 extensions a year and took most of them during race week.

I think the judge stated they were minded not to grant pub extensions beyond 1am and that Mill Street was not involved very much...that or maybe the Judge and Mill Street together. Some towns have no extensions from Monday to Wednesday because the local Judge won't grant them.

( EDIT. The no extension past 1am policy dates from 2000 and was unilaterally introduced by Judge Garavan rather than the police because of "Dreadful Women" in Galway Night Clubs. )

You are not making a very good case there Seaneh!!

snubbleste

What are you saying Seaneh.. That only selective legislation should be enforced?

Seaneh

snubbleste wrote: »

What are you saying Seaneh.. That only selective legislation should be enforced?

No, I'm saying the legislation should be applied as the law allow and exemptions be granted until 2am, like any other city in Ireland.

Galway depends on tourism more so than any other town or city in Ireland, and sadly enough, a large part of that toursim (but national and international) is attracted here because of a reputation of good night life.

If the legislation isn't applied properly, like it is in Cork, Dublin, Limerick, Sligo, Athlone and other large urban areas, then Galway will stop attracting that proportion of tourists to the city and jobs will be lost, not just in pubs and clubs either, but in other service industries who rely on those tourists.

Also, it's going to lead to massive problems with anti-social behaviour once the town is full of students again in a few weeks.


Do you honestly think they are just going to go home to bed at 1am monday - thursday? Are they feck, every housing estate with a student population will have complaints of noise and disorder from houseparties.


Whoever the licencing Sargent is, she needs to have a large does of cop on. Same goes to the district court.

Sponge Bob

Seaneh wrote: »

No, I'm saying the legislation should be applied as the law allow and exemptions be granted until 2am, like any other city in Ireland.

The closing times stipulated in a bar extension are ENTIRELY within the gift of the local District court and can vary from 1am to 2:30 am as the Judge sees fit.

Also, it's going to lead to massive problems with anti-social behaviour once the town is full of students again in a few weeks.

Hmm. Let me try to follow that logic.

1. Students will misbehave more in Galway than in other cities because they must leave pubs earlier.
2. Ordinary Galway people who are not students together with tourists from all over the gaff will not misbehave, only students.

Keep digging Seaneh

Seaneh

Sponge Bob wrote: »

1. Students will misbehave more in Galway than in other cities because they must leave pubs earlier.
2. Ordinary Galway people who are not students together with tourists from all over the gaff will not misbehave, only students.

Freshers week is roudy at the bets of times, freshers week were the new influx of paddy and jim 18 year old who've never lived out of home before, fresh from moate, crossmolina and carrick on shannon have to be out of clubs by 1am, is just going to turn into loads of house parties.


If honestly think otherwise, you're deluded.

BhoscaCapall

Hopefully this backfires spectacularly, like when they "cancelled" Rag Week.

Seaneh

BhoscaCapall wrote: »

Hopefully this backfires spectacularly, like when they "cancelled" Rag Week.

in fairness, thay was NUIG themselves who banned the SU from organising it.

BhoscaCapall

I meant "they" in the angsty sense. The Man.

Seaneh

BhoscaCapall wrote: »

I meant "they" in the angsty sense. The Man.

Ah, right ya are, sorry about that.

keano89

Is the issue hear not that there were pubs who weren't paying the extension but who were still waiting open past 11:30pm and closing at the same time as those who had paid for the extension?

Seaneh

keano89 wrote: »

Is the issue hear not that there were pubs who weren't paying the extension but who were still waiting open past 11:30pm and closing at the same time as those who had paid for the extension?

No, not even a little bit.

Sponge Bob

Seaneh wrote: »

No, not even a little bit.

Not one single pub served after 11:30 ( Mon - Weds), save where they had an extension Seaneh, are you absolutely sure.??

Seaneh

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Not one single pub served after 11:30 ( Mon - Weds), save where they had an extension Seaneh, are you absolutely sure.??

That's not what the issue is, so, no, not even a bit.

If the gardai were going around closing places at 11.30 you'd have a case, but they aren't. That's not the issue at all.

Also none of the pubs which were "inspected" had failed to produce an exemption. If they had they would be fined for it.

The question he asked was if the inspections were happening because bars/clubs weren't geting exemptions, the answer is no, that's not the reason.

BhoscaCapall

I'm not sure who loses out in that situation though. The government? Surely they'd make a nice bit off the extra booze sold during them hours, which they tax to ridiculous levels as it is. And it's not as if any normal person gives a toss whether a place has paid for a late license or not (providing they stay open ofc).

Sponge Bob

What I heard was that they are getting ready for a blitz on offences under Section 4 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003. Don't get insulted if I quote the law at you Seaneh, mkay.

Conduct on Licensed Premises
Drunken persons.
4.—(1) A licensee shall not, on the licensed premises—

(a) supply, or permit any person to supply, intoxicating liquor—
(i) to a drunken person, or
(ii) to any person for consumption by a drunken person;

(b) permit a drunken person to consume intoxicating liquor;

(c) permit drunkenness to take place in the bar; or

(d) admit any drunken person to the bar.

(2) A licensee who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offence under this section

Oh

(4) In a prosecution for an offence under subsection (1)(c) it is a defence to prove that the licensee took reasonable steps to prevent the drunkenness concerned taking place.

Some bars and clubs in Galway reckon a doorman is "a defence" under subsection 2(4)

and in the interests of balance the Guards will also enforce section 6 of the same Act earlier.

6.—(1) A drunken person shall leave licensed premises on being requested to do so by the licensee or a member of the Garda Síochána.

(2) A drunken person shall not seek entry to the bar of licensed premises.

(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) is guilty of an offence under this section and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding—

(a) for a first offence, €300, or

(b) for a second or any subsequent offence, €500.

(4) A member of the Garda Síochána may arrest without warrant any person committing an offence under this section or whom the member, with reasonable cause, suspects of being guilty of such an offence.

Securing a conviction under section 6 makes it trivial to secure one under section 4, trust me on that one.

What I have heard is that they are fed up of the state the punters are in WHEN they go out for a few drinks near closing time and want to change that attitude.

Pappa Charlie

Seaneh wrote: »

That's not what the issue is, so, no, not even a bit.

If the gardai were going around closing places at 11.30 you'd have a case, but they aren't. That's not the issue at all.

Also none of the pubs which were "inspected" had failed to produce an exemption. If they had they would be fined for it.

The question he asked was if the inspections were happening because bars/clubs weren't geting exemptions, the answer is no, that's not the reason.

Bet they will be getting exemptions going forward if they want the 2am finish and they cost money to get @ €400, guess they have to weight up cost of exemption V loss of revenue, many will get the exemption and posters will be able to have the late drink in selected venues with peace of mind, win / win

Seaneh

Pappa Charlie wrote: »

Bet they will be getting exemptions going forward if they want the 2am finish and they cost money to get @ €400, guess they have to weight up cost of exemption V loss of revenue, many will get the exemption and posters will be able to have the late drink in selected venues with peace of mind, win / win

They are all paying for the exemption.
The problem is that a local judge set the exemption at 1am instead of the allowed 2.30 am (2am is the norm in most large urban areas, 2.30 in Dublin and Cork).

None of the places "inspected" and closed at 1am had failed to pay for exemptions.

And Gardai get a list every month of what bars and clubs have exemptions on what night, if the bar or club didn't have an exemption at all you can be sure as **** the Gardai would be there at a lot earlier.