“All pubs must serve a substantial meal to anyone who is consuming alcohol on their premises.”
Gardaí and the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) have called on pubs across Dublin to follow safety guidelines, stating “severe enforcement action” will be taken against pubs who don’t follow the rules.
The call from An Garda Síochána and the LVA was addressed to pubs “across Dublin” as opposed to pubs nationwide.
Pubs that serve ‘substantial’ meals have been permitted to reopen since Monday 29 June.
Under the Government’s and Fáilte Ireland’s guidelines for Phase 3, all pubs must serve a substantial meal to anyone who is consuming alcohol on their premises.
This meal must be valued at €9 or more and a separate meal must be provided to each individual who is drinking alcohol.
Customers are also restricted to a maximum stay of 105 minutes.
The LVA has said that pubs who fail to abide by these rules could receive an objection to their licence when it comes up for renewal.
Anne Maria Cagney, Assistant Commissioner of the An Garda Síochána, Dublin Metropolitan Region, has said that inspections will be taking place over the coming days.
“An Garda Síochána will continue to work with the trade in this unprecedented situation.
“We will seek to engage and encourage all businesses to follow the guidelines and to do the right thing.
“We will also be undertaking inspections to ensure pubs are respecting the guidelines. Our role is to maintain public order and if there are indications that any such problems are arising we will intervene.”
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