Government passes Bill permitting the sale of alcohol on Good Friday

On Thursday 25 January, the Dáil passed the Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (the “Bill”) which will bring an end to the prohibition on the sale of alcohol on Good Friday, being the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, which has been in place since the enactment of the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1927.

The Bill provides that alcohol can be sold on Good Friday in all licensed premises, so not only public houses but restaurants, off-licences and other licensed premises. This decision has been welcomed by public house representative bodies and the Restaurant Association of Ireland, and it is thought that this measure will benefit Irish tourism and business in 2018.

The Bill is expected to be signed into law by the President before Easter this year. 

Further proposed changes to licensing law, in the form of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015, is due to be considered by the Dáil later this year. For more detail on the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015, please click here.

For more information on the Bill, or any licensing law matters please contact Bryan O’Gorman from the ByrneWallace Licensing Team.