Should the Good Friday Alcohol Ban be extended?

mansize · 19-01-2016 05:45AM

hot buttered scones wrote: »

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.

Good Friday is a regular working day in Ireland

THall04 · 19-01-2016 05:47AM

I used to drink about 80 to 100 units of alcohol a week , so that makes me an alcoholic.
One way of cutting down on consumption is not to store any alcohol in my house.
For me there's no such thing as stocking up for Christmas as anything I buy or given as a gift , will be drank that night or the same day.

So I go to the pub to socialise , drink moderately and stop when the bar is closed...as opposed to drinking myself unconscious at home.

One problem is that few people go out mid week , when I finish work.
At Easter I normally start my first of 4 dayshifts at 7am Sunday Morning.
So Friday night means a lot to me .
Its normally the one night I can go for a pint and meet friends and this is why I absolutely f**king hate the Good Friday ban.

When this law was passed we didn't have huge off-licences and supermarkets selling drink at much cheaper prices than the pubs.
In the past it may have reduced alcohol consumption , but now it has the opposite effect.

Thank f**k for my local dog track....great laugh there on Good Friday , nice crowd /relaxed atmosphere.

hot buttered scones · 19-01-2016 06:18AM

mansize wrote: »

Good Friday is a regular working day in Ireland

Not for me!!! Nor the schools or universities. In fact, I don't think I've ever had to work Good Friday except when I was working in the service industry. I know it varies from job to job. The banks are closed too - it's a bank holiday, but not a public holiday? I dunno, I still think its no harm to have one day a year where you can't buy drink - a time for reflection and all that malarkey. I can see the ban being lifted this year for the 1916 celebrations, and possibly not returning afterwards. I'll be sad to see it go. Although generally anyone that wants a drink will get a drink. Its only pubs and off licenses/supermarkets that are banned from selling alcohol - so if your that badly stuck, get on a boat or train or plane (the station or airport will do), go to the dogs or book into a hotel. Actually I've just changed my mind - with so many exceptions its seems a bit pointless so get rid of it I say. I'll just stay out of the pub myself and leave the rest of ye get on with it.

Fleawuss · 19-01-2016 06:55AM

Poor old religion. It's like that lady who used to be on O'Connell street with her crucifix. Just ranting on about the past "glories" while the world marched past.

The reasonable answer is that the state has no business enforcing the religious practices of any of the religious groups among the citizenry. If you want to dress in black etc or whatever there's no one stopping you. If you don't want to drink then don't. The idea the Gardai have to enforce a ban so your religion can feel it's special day has been observed is daft. Simply daft.

And please continue to hide behind: won't anyone think of the workers, we drink too much, down with vintners etc etc. No one believes you anymore.

RobertKK · 19-01-2016 02:05PM

murpho999 wrote: »

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

Wrong, look at the other 364/365 days of the year, binge drinking continues unabated when not controlled. Nothing to do with feeling controlled. It is due to an unhealthy attitude towards alcohol.

rafatoni · 19-01-2016 02:14PM

Ah yes, The vinters, theyre a great bunch of lads altogether..... they just hate the fact that the offys and supermarkets cream it on the holy thursday and their big slice of the pie on the friday is not there.

Auld leo is a gas lad too, he doesnt mind the pubs being open and his buddies charging 8 quid a pint in temple bar... he wont have an issue with someone drinking 12 pints at that price its just the 12 cans at a euro a pop from super valu when he has his ''health'' cap on.

The Randy Riverbeast · 20-01-2016 02:06PM

hot buttered scones wrote: »

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.

Not everyone gets good Friday off, for a lot of us it is just like any other day.

Azalea · 21-01-2016 12:41AM

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.

I know, but that's not what I was referring to - I was referring to people who are saying those who disagree with pub/off-licence closures on good Friday must have a drink problem, which is a really silly assessment.

The Backwards Man wrote: »

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.

Well I don't think anyone is "crying" about the good Friday ban on alcohol sales - but you are comparing going to the bank to wanting to go out on a Friday night, it's disingenuous IMO. And crap for tourists, if people who are already living here who are not religious or are not christian aren't going to be considered. Good Friday is not a bank holiday, it is a standard working day for plenty of people, and a normal Friday night.

hot buttered scones wrote: »

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?

Because Christmas day is not like an ordinary Friday night (which is what good Friday is to many people) so the demand is bound to be far lower for going out to the pub, due to most people being at family/friends' homes (and if it's just about alcohol, well that's one substance there is plenty of in the home over Christmas!) I know not everyone has a family or friend's home to go to, but the vast majority do, hence the greatly reduced demand for the pub to be open.

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.

Well it's a work day for me. The company I work for changes its requirements year on year so some years I don't have to come in, but have to take the time out of my annual leave. I prefer to keep those holiday hours when I can though, tbh - it's just an ordinary Friday to me.

People can indeed do other things besides drink on good Friday evening, it's a nice time of year - I don't go to the pub every Friday night anyway, but I like to have the option, so this is why I don't accept not having the option on good Friday. If I wanted to drink on good Friday, I could go to the off-licence beforehand but that doesn't change the fact that I might want to head out to the pub to meet friends. Possibly drive to the pub, so I would not be drinking anyway.
If it was good Tuesday, I don't think there would be anywhere near as much objections - it's the fact that it's a weekend night that bothers people.

THall04 wrote: »

few people go out mid week , when I finish work.
At Easter I normally start my first of 4 dayshifts at 7am Sunday Morning.
So Friday night means a lot to me .
Its normally the one night I can go for a pint and meet friends and this is why I absolutely f**king hate the Good Friday ban.

Exactly. It is a Friday night, when people want to go out. If it was just about drink, they would only have to stock up beforehand. The lack of availability of drink is not a problem, it can easily be got around - it is the lack of choice to be able to go out, due to an organisation that has no relevance to a lot of people, and no other reason. I am not having a go at people who are religious, but they can just not go out. I drink very little these days (hate getting drunk) but like heading out to meet friends (some weekends, not every weekend) in a place playing the music I like, and I know I speak for a lot of people.

hot buttered scones wrote: »

I'll just stay out of the pub myself and leave the rest of ye get on with it.

Precisely - people who do not want to go to the pub have that option either way!

rubadub · 21-01-2016 01:28AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

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.

"Bank holiday" is just slang, there are 6 public holidays and I know people who work in banks who often work on public holidays. I don't think there is any legal requirement for them to remain shut to regular customers, they just do decide to close, like many other businesses do.

If there was a huge financial interest in them to stay open I imagine they would, like any sensible business would. There is a huge financial interest in pubs and restaurants to be allowed to serve alcohol. Some pubs do remain open on good friday, it is only alcohol which is banned.

hot buttered scones wrote: »

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?

If pubs were allowed open on both days few would open christmas day as there would not be much demand, just like most other businesses close. Its the principle of the thing. Remember this is not just pubs and people getting pissed. Tourists cannot enjoy a glass of wine with dinner in a restaurant.

If the ban was on easter tuesday you would similarly not hear much complaints, this should be pretty obvious. If alcohol was banned on the friday of any week with a public holiday landing on the monday you would hear complaints. It is NOT just some random day of the year like people like to make out, stick your head in the sand but you are only fooling yourself. Or maybe some people genuinely are fools who have never bothered to think about it.

hot buttered scones wrote: »

I don't see any non Christians objecting to having the day off work for Good Friday or any other religious holiday. .

I have seen plenty of people complain, including Christians. I expect any decent human being would not like to see their faith imposed on others. Most do give a damn about the rights of others. I remember 2 east european girls in work were really upset to hear they had to take good friday off. They had all their holidays planned for the year and now had were down 1 day of their annual leave.

Same goes for christmas, it really annoys me when I hear people declaring people are "lucky to get so much time off", as though every single person is given holidays around religious holidays for free, and that none are coming from annual leave.

hot buttered scones · 21-01-2016 03:45AM

rubadub wrote: »

If pubs were allowed open on both days few would open christmas day as there would not be much demand, just like most other businesses close. Its the principle of the thing. Remember this is not just pubs and people getting pissed. Tourists cannot enjoy a glass of wine with dinner in a restaurant.

I can't go shopping on a Sunday in Barcelona as a tourist (for example). I know this because I plan on going to Barcelona and I have done my research. When in Rome etc. Also if these tourists are staying in hotels, I'm pretty sure they can have a drink with there dinner there.

rubadub wrote: »

If the ban was on easter tuesday you would similarly not hear much complaints, this should be pretty obvious. If alcohol was banned on the friday of any week with a public holiday landing on the monday you would hear complaints. It is NOT just some random day of the year like people like to make out, stick your head in the sand but you are only fooling yourself. Or maybe some people genuinely are fools who have never bothered to think about it.

I'm well aware of its religious roots, and I don't really care about them. I just laugh at the big fuss made about one stupid day were you can't buy drink. If the furore made over this every year does not make people question this nations attitude to alcohol, then I'm afraid they are the ones who need to go away and think. I couldn't care less about Good Friday or its religious significance. Scrap it for all I care, but why can't we have one day a year where alcohol is not sold as a national day of reflection. Maybe bring back the ban on St. Patricks Day instead - it might not be a bad idea judging by the carnage that occurs on this day every year.

rubadub wrote: »

I have seen plenty of people complain, including Christians. I expect any decent human being would not like to see their faith imposed on others. Most do give a damn about the rights of others. I remember 2 east european girls in work were really upset to hear they had to take good friday off. They had all their holidays planned for the year and now had were down 1 day of their annual leave.

Same goes for christmas, it really annoys me when I hear people declaring people are "lucky to get so much time off", as though every single person is given holidays around religious holidays for free, and that none are coming from annual leave.

Couldn't care less where these holidays have their roots - whether they be faith based or otherwise. The winter break/Christmas/Holiday season/whatever your having yourself and the Spring Break/Easter Holidays are the traditional times where businesses schools etc. close in this country. I feel sorry for your Eastern European friends - it was bad form that they weren't informed of this, but maybe they should have found out for themselves. Any job I've ever had I've always made sure to find out the rules regarding annual leave etc. especially around the Public Holidays. Where I work Good Friday is given as a day off outside of annual leave, and there is no complaints about it. On the other hand, we've often had to take our summer holidays at a time that suits the company and not of our choosing due to summer shutdown for maintenance - (as do many other places) and that has to come out of our annual leave. Do you find that unfair, or is it ok because its not based around any religious festival? While you are entitled to a statutory minimum numbers of days annual leave, in most workplaces these days are to be taken at the companies convenience. Your friends could easily have been refused there holidays when they wanted to take them depending on business needs at the time. Also it has absolutely nothing to do with the sale of alcohol on Good Friday.

Sam Quentin · 21-01-2016 04:01AM

The only people who have an issue with this and who bring it to the fore are, publicans and alcoholics.............. ohh and people who are in denial about having a drink problem. Thank You.

Antar Bolaeisk · 21-01-2016 05:04AM

rubadub wrote: »

What about st brigids day? or st columba? they are seemingly more important than stephen. and what about all the other holy days, there are loads of them.

yeah, all non-athiests, no matter what religion they are (or not) have no issue with this fucked up law :rolleyes:

Sorry, so as not to offend the Atheists in the audience they should extend it to include closing shops on the the 26th of December.

By the way, I'm completely non-religious, I don't even follow the quasi-religion of Atheism.

pickarooney · 21-01-2016 06:34AM

mad muffin wrote: »

As someone who has a take it or leave it attitude towards alcohol. It wouldn't bother me one little bit, if total prohibition was introduced.

Do you have shares in spats and Tommy gun companies?

Azalea · 21-01-2016 11:31AM

Antar Bolaeisk wrote: »

Sorry, so as not to offend the Atheists in the audience they should extend it to include closing shops on the the 26th of December.

By the way, I'm completely non-religious, I don't even follow the quasi-religion of Atheism.

Why is there such an obsession with having a go at atheists as if they're all the exact same as the snide ones? Can't they see this is the same as what's (rightly) objected to by religious people - as in, "catholics are paedo and misogynist supporters", including by people who are atheist/non religious themselves. Quite strange...

I don't know if I'm atheist, I'm more agnostic I'd think. Keep it to myself and don't have a go at religious people. It's the way with numerous non believers/doubters whatever - most of us no doubt.

valoren · 21-01-2016 01:26PM

I think it's the use of the words like ban, prohibition that get's people's backs up.
Pubs and off licences are generally closed (though not legally required to do so) on Christmas Day too (another religious day) and no one bats an eyelid.

The question really then is why?
Why are the pubs closed on Good Friday?
The only reason in my mind is that it is purely religious.

And as it is an enforceable law then that simply means the mixing of church and state.
And that is the crux of the issue. The closure of pubs and offies is only symbolic.
You must never mix church and state. So from that point of view the antiquated law should be repealed.

"I disagree with the amount of booze thou taketh, but I will fight for thy right to drinketh" :0

suicide_circus · 21-01-2016 02:37PM

Just ban it outright then we can be pious and health conscious all year round.

Graces7 · 21-01-2016 03:01PM

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.

Used to be so, ie no alcohol sold that day. I never go anywhere on that day now.. Read this ! Only in Ireland...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday_closure_controversy We are not going to lose tourists because of a one day ban; more likely to do so with this kind of palaver which shows how drink oriented a society Ireland is.

mansize · 21-01-2016 03:15PM

Pubs are required to be closed Xmas Day AFAIK

JCX BXC · 21-01-2016 03:40PM

We should take a Saudi Arabia approach to things, executions for horrific crimes and a complete ban on Alcohol.

21-01-2016 04:17PM

iDave wrote: »

Doesn't bother me that the pubs are closed but dont like how the choice is taken from me to suit religious types.
The sight of people stocking up on watery tasteless beer like Carlsberg or Heineken on the Thursday is truly pathetic though.

You sound cool.

JCX BXC · 21-01-2016 04:23PM

The best argument I have seen against it is that we are living in the Dark ages! Ireland, with one of the most advanced economies in the world, is living in the dark ages due to a one day alcohol ban!

gramar · 21-01-2016 04:56PM

As done on many occasions down through the centuries soon enough the church will get involved and promote boozing on Good Friday to get the masses on it's side and and claim that drinking on Good Friday was it's own idea all along.

c_man · 21-01-2016 05:41PM

gramar wrote: »

As done on many occasions down through the centuries soon enough the church will get involved and promote boozing on Good Friday to get the masses on it's side and and claim that drinking on Good Friday was it's own idea all along.

Yeah... it won't really though.

Huntergonzo · 21-01-2016 05:47PM

Get rid of this silly law, it's fúckin ridiculous at this stage, in fairness so are our restrictive opening hours but that's another day's work.

Drumpot · 21-01-2016 05:52PM

lertsnim wrote: »

Restrictions on sales of alcohol do nothing but encourage binge drinking.

Said no responsible, balanced drinker ever . .

m5ex9oqjawdg2i · 21-01-2016 06:43PM

Carnacalla wrote: »

We should take a Saudi Arabia approach to things, executions for horrific mediocre crimes and a complete ban on Alcohol logic.

Fixed that for ya

end of the road · 21-01-2016 07:08PM

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.
They are the only ones who need the Good Friday ban lifted, the rest of the nation can cope fine.

and those of us who believe in freedom of choice. a concept some in this country don't understand it seems. oh and i hardly drink by the way

pawrick wrote: »

Most of the day time tourists I've come across in Dublin tend to have one or 2 drinks and that's it for the day any other weekend. It would be great if the pubs continued to do live music and made their premises family friendly for the day if they want the business but it's easier to dish out pints for them.

I'm all for the ban and I dont care where it originates from as everyone is in the house party mood and really what's the big deal having one day where you cant go in to a bar? It would be nice if it was for the entire weekend in fact as it might promote more family activities and give some people a break from their daily routine propping up a bar stool.

a bann wouldn't make any of that happen. the person proping up the bar stool would just drink somewhere else. they still wouldn't spend time with the family. there is plenty of family friendlyness availible.

Richard Hillman wrote: »

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

not this tradition.

end of the road · 21-01-2016 07:15PM

RobertKK wrote: »

No it doesn't make the country look backward.

it does. the amount of revenue that is lost to this out of date bann is ridiculous.

RobertKK wrote: »

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.

they are few and far between.

RobertKK wrote: »

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.

as the bann doesn't help with this supposed drink problem, then surely you should support its removal as it makes no difference?

RobertKK wrote: »

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.

thats unfortunate, but its life. drink driving is against the law, so its up to the government to fund the garda force to enforce the laws properly. good friday banns and restrictions won't change anything, the amount that abuse are smaller then the amount that don't.

RobertKK wrote: »

Drinking alcohol is what is backward as a recent study found drinking any alcohol is a negative for health.

its not backward at all. someones health is their business and if they choose to drink alcohol, thats their prohibitive.

RobertKK wrote: »

So maybe if we had more alcohol free days in terms of sales it would be more progressive than having less.

it wouldn't. it would also cost us revenue and damage the economy.

hot buttered scones · 21-01-2016 08:50PM

Huntergonzo wrote:

Get rid of this silly law, it's fÃºckin ridiculous at this stage, in fairness so are our restrictive opening hours but that's another day's work.

As contradictory or hypocritical as it may seem, while I have no problem with the Good Friday ban, I do agree with you regarding the restrictive opening hours. I think the days of the Good Friday ban are coming to an end, but I would rather see the liberalisation of opening hours come first.

Azalea · 21-01-2016 09:06PM

Drumpot wrote: »

Said no responsible, balanced drinker ever . .

Well this one kinda agrees with it - in relation to good Friday anyway. "It does nothing but" is hyperbole, but it's true that it leads to binge-drinking when considering the way it causes people to stockpile a load of drink and go on a huge bender good Friday night just because the pubs are closed. If the pubs were open like any Friday night, there would not be anything like the compulsion to buy from the off-licence in bulk.

Should the Good Friday Alcohol Ban be extended?

Comments