Last orders.
There are two days of the year that pubs are closed in Ireland, Christmas Day and Good Friday. Both a religious holiday, both a big no-no when it comes to drinking in pubs.
According to RTÉ though, the 90-year ban on pubs opening on Good Friday is coming closer to an end as the legislation has passed all stages of the Seanad.
Senator Billy Lawless, who is an independent, introduced The Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill and said that the bill was needed to make Ireland a “forward-thinking” country.
Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Lawless said:
“In my mind, the passage of today’s bill is another progressive step in Ireland’s long journey in the separation of church and state.
“It is understandable when lawmakers try to introduce legislation that changes a practice that has been in place for almost 100 years, people pause to reflect, yet this is what lawmaking is about.
“There is an affinity to the closed day but that affinity is, in fact, leading to alcohol abuse in many cases.”
Once passed through the Dáil and signed into Law by President, Michael D. Higgins, the legislation will allow pubs, restaurants and other licensed premises to open on Good Friday.
Senator Lawless also said that in order to tackle the binge drinking problem in Ireland, licenses premised needed to reduce the sales of low-cost alcohol.
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