Should the Good Friday Alcohol Ban be extended?

rubadub · 18-01-2016 06:12PM

sdanseo wrote: »

Two sides to this one; on the one hand it's a bit pathetic that people panic-buy alcohol on the Thursday.

I have never seen any of this alleged "pathetic panic buying" going on. I have seen people buy drink of course, and as bulk buying is cheaper most do that, as it's pretty sensible, they seemed perfectly calm & collected to me. Many will be hosting parties and so buying for many people, but no panic there either.

Do you regard people buying food in at christmas "pathetic" too? or is it just alcohol? what about 7up?

posturingpat · 18-01-2016 06:12PM

It's one day/build up to a day that really sickens my hole. I go out for a few pints once or twice every week or fortnight and the odd time i might go on a bit of a mad 1 and go on it for a full weekend,much like your run of the mill male drinker between the age of 18 and 40.
Despite this i've no bother not having a drink on a Good Friday yet i've friends that mightn't have a drink for 6 months at a time that go into panic mode before Good Friday with Facebook statuses up about OMG no drink this Friday etc. and sending out group messages to organise parties etc. when the same people normally wouldn't go near a party other than for a nosey. What kind of gob****es do we have about this country at all :rolleyes:

Richard Hillman · 18-01-2016 06:15PM

Best drinking day of the year. It would be just another Friday if they opened the off licences and pubs.

Sometimes it is nice to preserve traditions

RobertKK · 19-01-2016 02:12AM

murpho999 wrote: »

It makes the country look backward and under the cosh of the church.

Tourists who don't want to go on the p1ss like Irish but can't get a glass of wine with a meal. It's ridiculous.

Religious doctrines should not be forced on the masses by a secular state (which Ireland is supposed to be).
If Catholics don't want to drink that day then don't be but let those who don't believe in it do what they want.

No it doesn't make the country look backward.

What makes the country look backwards are all the people who lack a brain and are unable to drink sensibly, and think they need alcohol to enjoy themselves.

If we had less of a drinking problem in this country, then yes I would support the lifting, but every year we see how sad the situation is as some people have to stock up for the day.

It is a drug that a lot of people use irresponsibly, there are still people who drink and drive, A&Es with people suffering from the effects of alcohol - a stat for the UK was 70% of people attending A&E are due to alcohol.
Alcohol associated with mental health issues and increased cases of cancer.

Drinking alcohol is what is backward as a recent study found drinking any alcohol is a negative for health.
So maybe if we had more alcohol free days in terms of sales it would be more progressive than having less.

Azalea · 19-01-2016 02:19AM

The only thing that's pathetic is adults saying "lol I'd love to stick it to the atheists", not even bothering to differentiate between atheists

Pubs closing on a Friday night because of the church, when so many people don't practise Christianity or don't have a belief at all, is an absolute joke. Particularly for tourists. People should have the option to go to the pub to socialise on a Friday night if they wish - it's not just about alcohol. If it were, people could just stock up beforehand but that's a bit unhealthy in my opinion. I don't need to ensure there's a rake of drink in the house, I'd just like (being an adult) to have the option if the fancy takes me to head out good Friday night.

I'm sure the "Hur hur, look at those plebs unable to handle one night of the year without the pub" feel great about themselves (bet it annoys them some good Fridays that they can't go out though, and I'd bet also some of them are atheists - the ones who are "better" than other atheists) but they're missing the point by miles. "It's nice to have tradition" from people who don't even go to mass is hilarious too.

The Randy Riverbeast · 19-01-2016 02:25AM

They could close the pubs for the entire time of Ramadan and it wouldn't change much for me.

I don't see any reason for alcohol sales to be illegal though, only an idiot would think it stops people drinking.

The Randy Riverbeast · 19-01-2016 02:26AM

RobertKK wrote: »

No it doesn't make the country look backward.

What makes the country look backwards are all the people who lack a brain and are unable to drink sensibly, and think they need alcohol to enjoy themselves.

If we had less of a drinking problem in this country, then yes I would support the lifting, but every year we see how sad the situation is as some people have to stock up for the day.

It is a drug that a lot of people use irresponsibly, there are still people who drink and drive, A&Es with people suffering from the effects of alcohol - a stat for the UK was 70% of people attending A&E are due to alcohol.
Alcohol associated with mental health issues and increased cases of cancer.

Drinking alcohol is what is backward as a recent study found drinking any alcohol is a negative for health.
So maybe if we had more alcohol free days in terms of sales it would be more progressive than having less.

keep the ban because people are drinking too much that day? What a successful ban that is.

Azalea · 19-01-2016 02:27AM

RobertKK wrote: »

The ban only affects those who sell alcohol, and those who drink too much alcohol and are totally out of their mind to know when it is Good Friday.

And tourists.

And non religious people who want to go to the pub to socialise on a Friday night, not even necessarily to drink alcohol.

Religious people just don't have to drink - that's fine.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 19-01-2016 02:28AM

In all seriousness though, some of the best house parties I've been at were on good Friday.

RobertKK · 19-01-2016 02:31AM

Azalea wrote: »

The only thing that's pathetic is adults saying "lol I'd love to stick it to the atheists", not even bothering to differentiate between atheists

Pubs closing on a Friday night because of the church, when so many people don't practise Christianity or don't have a belief at all, is an absolute joke. Particularly for tourists. People should have the option to go to the pub to socialise on a Friday night if they wish - it's not just about alcohol. If it were, people could just stock up beforehand but that's a bit unhealthy in my opinion. I don't need to ensure there's a rake of drink in the house, I'd just like (being an adult) to have the option if the fancy takes me to head out good Friday night.

I'm sure the "Hur hur, look at those plebs unable to handle one night of the year without the pub" feel great about themselves (bet it annoys them some good Fridays that they can't go out though, and I'd bet also some of them are atheists - the ones who are "better" than other atheists) but they're missing the point by miles. "It's nice to have tradition" from people who don't even go to mass is hilarious too.

But have atheists stopped with Christmas? Have they stopped the tradition of St Nicholas with giving presents for example?
Atheists like traditions too...

The Backwards Man · 19-01-2016 02:31AM

24/7 access to the purchase of alcohol should be a basic human right.

Fcuk the people that think it's not that a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

RobertKK · 19-01-2016 02:33AM

The Randy Riverbeast wrote: »

keep the ban because people are drinking too much that day? What a successful ban that is.

No keep it to highlight the problem.

A ban for one day won't stop the alcoholics who crave it.

Azalea · 19-01-2016 02:34AM

Having a go at atheists is beyond edgy, as is telling people who disagree with church control of pubs that they have a drink problem.

The Backwards Man wrote: »

24/7 access to the purchase of alcohol should be a basic human right.

Fcuk the people that think it's not that a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

God no, nobody is saying that. You might maybe (wilfully) misunderstand the much more subdued point people are making?

TheLastMohican · 19-01-2016 02:37AM

Why stop at Good Fridays? Ban it completely. Prohibition and all it's attractive spin offs ....... SpeakEasies ......... numbers rackets ........ whores with hears of gold, ....... dancers wanting to make it on stage etc.
I'm all for it!

The Randy Riverbeast · 19-01-2016 02:37AM

RobertKK wrote: »

No keep it to highlight the problem.

A ban for one day won't stop the alcoholics who crave it.

You can stand outside a nightclub most nights and do that. The ban doesn't prevent drinking and has even made it a night of partying. Might as well let people head into town.

RobertKK · 19-01-2016 02:39AM

Azalea wrote: »

Having a go at atheists is beyond edgy, as is telling people who disagree with church control of pubs that they have a drink problem.

A lot of people do have a drink problem and drink far more than the recommended level.

There is going to be such a demand for livers in the coming years.

The Backwards Man · 19-01-2016 02:40AM

Azalea wrote: »

Having a go at atheists is beyond edgy, as is telling people who disagree with church control of pubs that they have a drink problem.

God no, nobody is saying that. You might maybe (wilfully) misunderstand the much more subdued point people are making?

Ah, I'm not a big fan of the Good Friday law meself, although it was a great day for varnishing floors, but I think people go way overboard in their protestations at the same time. Life is too short to get wound up by trivial stuff.

RobertKK · 19-01-2016 02:41AM

The Randy Riverbeast wrote: »

You can stand outside a nightclub most nights and do that. The ban doesn't prevent drinking and has even made it a night of partying. Might as well let people head into town.

The real question is why do some people need alcohol to enjoy themselves?

TheLastMohican · 19-01-2016 02:42AM

RobertKK wrote: »

A lot of people do have a drink problem and drink far more than the recommended level.

There is going to be such a demand for livers in the coming years.

Life depends on the liver

murpho999 · 19-01-2016 02:42AM

RobertKK wrote: »

No it doesn't make the country look backward.

What makes the country look backwards are all the people who lack a brain and are unable to drink sensibly, and think they need alcohol to enjoy themselves.

If we had less of a drinking problem in this country, then yes I would support the lifting, but every year we see how sad the situation is as some people have to stock up for the day.

It is a drug that a lot of people use irresponsibly, there are still people who drink and drive, A&Es with people suffering from the effects of alcohol - a stat for the UK was 70% of people attending A&E are due to alcohol.
Alcohol associated with mental health issues and increased cases of cancer.

Drinking alcohol is what is backward as a recent study found drinking any alcohol is a negative for health.
So maybe if we had more alcohol free days in terms of sales it would be more progressive than having less.

It does make the country look backward. People coming here for a weekend at Easter just say our biggest social outlet and one of our major tourist attractions closed due to a religious law. No other country in Europe has that.

They don't come to analyse our attitudes to drink.

Also, to follow your logic we shoudl just ban alcohol alogther.

You do realise that the ban on Good Friday solves nothing and encourages binge drinking?
The whole attitude to licencing laws is ridiculous. It's not the availability of alcohol that is causing this country's problems with drink. Closing off licences at 10 has solved nothing.
Just like its annoying that you can't buy a bottle of wine for a dinner at 10 in the morning due to silly laws.

It really has to change.

RobertKK · 19-01-2016 02:47AM

murpho999 wrote: »

It does make the country look backward. People coming here for a weekend at Easter just say our biggest social outlet and one of our major tourist attractions closed due to a religious law. No other country in Europe has that.

They don't come to analyse our attitudes to drink.

Also, to follow your logic we shoudl just ban alcohol alogther.

You do realise that the ban on Good Friday solves nothing and encourages binge drinking?
The whole attitude to licencing laws is ridiculous. It's not the availability of alcohol that is causing this country's problems with drink. Closing off licences at 10 has solved nothing.
Just like its annoying that you can't buy a bottle of wine for a dinner at 10 in the morning due to silly laws.

It really has to change.

If it encourages binge drinking it shows how brain dead a certain section of society is.

Azalea · 19-01-2016 02:48AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Ah, I'm not a big fan of the Good Friday law meself, although it was a great day for varnishing floors, but I think people go way overboard in their protestations at the same time. Life is too short to get wound up by trivial stuff.

But I don't see people getting that wound up - they're only giving their opinion on the topic. The crowd relentlessly droning "it's only one day - you must have a drink problem" get way more wound up in my opinion.

I usually just do something non alcohol related good Friday (not bothered with house parties anymore, I really don't drink much at all these days) but I might want to head out to the pub some good Friday night and it's ludicrous that I can't (unless it gets changed) even though I don't practise a religion. No issue with folk being religious - but they can observe their rituals whether the pubs are open or not.

RayM · 19-01-2016 02:55AM

The ban should be extended to include the entire Lenten period, and should be enforced by armed priests.

The Backwards Man · 19-01-2016 02:56AM

Azalea wrote: »

But I don't see people getting that wound up - they're only giving their opinion on the topic. The crowd relentlessly droning "it's only one day - you must have a drink problem" get way more wound up in my opinion.

I usually just do something non alcohol related good Friday (not bothered with house parties anymore, I really don't drink much at all these days) but I might want to head out to the pub some good Friday night and it's ludicrous that I can't (unless it gets changed) even though I don't practise a religion. No issue with folk being religious - but they can observe their rituals whether the pubs are open or not.

Aye fair enough, that's your take.

I go to the bank on a Monday, there's six bank holiday Mondays this year where I will have to make different arrangements. It puts me out and I'm a bit annoyed about alright, but not to the stage that I'm going to start crying about it. I have no issue with the folks that get Bank Holidays off either, but I have no choice but to observe them.

murpho999 · 19-01-2016 03:11AM

RobertKK wrote: »

If it encourages binge drinking it shows how brain dead a certain section of society is.

No it doesn''t. Bans like this don't work and encourage the opposite.
People don't like being controlled.

Eugene Norman · 19-01-2016 03:16AM

murpho999 wrote: »

It does make the country look backward. People coming here for a weekend at Easter just say our biggest social outlet and one of our major tourist attractions closed due to a religious law. No other country in Europe has that.

They don't come to analyse our attitudes to drink.

Also, to follow your logic we shoudl just ban alcohol alogther.

You do realise that the ban on Good Friday solves nothing and encourages binge drinking?
The whole attitude to licencing laws is ridiculous. It's not the availability of alcohol that is causing this country's problems with drink. Closing off licences at 10 has solved nothing.
Just like its annoying that you can't buy a bottle of wine for a dinner at 10 in the morning due to silly laws.

It really has to change.

Plenty of countries have very restrictive laws on alcohol, not just us.

Anyway I would extend the ban to paddys day. It seems allowing drinking on paddys day is encouraging binge drinking.

lertsnim · 19-01-2016 04:30AM

Eugene Norman wrote: »

Anyway I would extend the ban to paddys day. It seems allowing drinking on paddys day is encouraging binge drinking.

How would you propose banning people drinking too much drink that was bought before March 17th?

Banning the sale of alcohol on a certain date to prevent drinking is a pointless exercise and only leads to more drinking. Off licences on holy thursday are usually like a war zone with people stockpiling way more than they would usually drink.

FatherTed · 19-01-2016 04:34AM

It's stupid. So a non-Christian who doesn't observe Good Friday cannot get a drink. I see Ireland is still stuck in Dev's age in some respects. If you don't want to drink on Good Friday, then don't, but don't deny others.

hot buttered scones · 19-01-2016 05:24AM

I don't see what the big deal is. There are two days a year where you can't buy alcohol - Good Friday and Christmas Day. I don't see many objecting to the ban on Christmas day? As for Good Friday, can't people find something else to do besides drink? I don't see any non Christians objecting to having the day off work for Good Friday or any other religious holiday. So if we allow the sale of alcohol on Good Friday, then we should also just make it a normal work day, because it's no different from any other day. And as for the poor tourists - many of them will probably come from European countries who, unlike us, have restrictions on Sunday trading.

hot buttered scones · 19-01-2016 05:30AM

Eugene Norman wrote: »

Plenty of countries have very restrictive laws on alcohol, not just us.

Anyway I would extend the ban to paddys day. It seems allowing drinking on paddys day is encouraging binge drinking.

The ban used to cover Paddy's day until the 70s, I think. Theyre so close together this year we can all spend Paddys day getting wasted and Good Friday reflecting on the error of our ways the week before.

Should the Good Friday Alcohol Ban be extended?

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