Off licences and draconian closing times

B.A._Baracus · 17-01-2016 03:29AM

Maybe I am alone in thinking this but closing the off-licenses at 10pm was the biggest "push" the goverment could do to make people drink in bars and pubs. A very self-interest move.

end of the road · 17-01-2016 04:00AM

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

Maybe I am alone in thinking this but closing the off-licenses at 10pm was the biggest "push" the goverment could do to make people drink in bars and pubs. A very self-interest move.

did it really though? it might have got a few back into the pubs but i'm not sure it worked well over all in that regard?

17-01-2016 04:34AM

I'll never forget the luck of disgust on my brother after landing back home as a surprise after three years away, getting in around 9, doing the whole thing with the parents and then saying me and him should run down for a couple of cans cause a. He had just had a 24 hour journey and fancied a beer and b. He had never had a beer with me. He said this around 10pm and hadn't heard about the change.

The Sidewards Man · 17-01-2016 05:50AM

How will people survive Good Friday?

arayess · 17-01-2016 07:59AM

The Sidewards Man wrote: »

How will people survive Good Friday?

they prepare for the end of days on holy thursday by buying a month's worth of booze and a bottle of spirits "just in case"

LordSutch · 17-01-2016 08:11AM

10pm is alright by me.

Its not changing is it?

thattequilagirl · 17-01-2016 11:18AM

buried wrote: »

Question for the posters in here who see no problem with the 10 pm off-licence closing hour. What do ye think the reason is that the off-licences have to close on the dot at 10 pm? I mean, ye see no problem with the closure hour, you agree with it, so, what's the logic or reason for it? There must be some reason as some of you strongly agree with it. I can't see the reasoning in it at all so I'd like to hear why does the 10 pm closure hour make sense to some of you folks?

It's not that I strongly agree with it, I just don't understand why some people on here so strongly disagree with it. It's really not that hard to plan for it.

Ireland has a very disfunctional relationship with alcohol. I don't know if the 10pm cutoff helps, but I'm 100% sure I would not like to see 24 hour off-licenses and I'd wager most A&E nurses and guards who work night shift would agree.

The thinking here seems to be "I'm a decent ordinary person who just wants a few cans after work", and no doubt you are - but if you get your 24 hour off license, it will be available to all the scumbags who just want to cause trouble too. I presume the law is aimed at them.

An extension to 11/11.30 on weekends probably wouldn't be a bad idea.

PowerToWait · 17-01-2016 11:46AM

511 wrote: »

The inability to debate this subject logically is certainly one. Any more logical fallacious you want to throw at me? Should I seek counselling for "alcohol controlling my life" despite me not having a drink for nearly 5 years?

No arguing with the Salt of the Earth™ proclamations of TBM. The man's a saint.

10 pm is ridiculous. All about the publican lobby.

Maximus Alexander · 17-01-2016 11:50AM

thattequilagirl wrote: »

- Not drinking for a night won't kill anyone either

- There are loads of alternative things to do apart from alcohol

- There's demand for heroin and Coke too...

In fairness, none of these are good arguments for prohibiting the sale of alcohol after 10pm.

Television is banned after 10pm.

- Not watching TV for a night won't kill anyone either

- There are loads of alternative things to do apart from watching TV

- There's demand for heroin and Coke too...

suicide_circus · 17-01-2016 11:55AM

So if someone wants to buy alcohol at 22:01 they're probably an alcoholic?

Most of the alcoholics I know are well passed out by that stage.

A childish relationship with alcoholic won't be solved through childish restrictions.

But then successive Irish governments have shown themselves devoid of foresight, vision and imagination so we can expect more of the "tax 'n ban" approach.

suicide_circus · 17-01-2016 11:59AM

thattequilagirl wrote: »

It's not that I strongly agree with it, I just don't understand why some people on here so strongly disagree with it. It's really not that hard to plan for it.

Ireland has a very disfunctional relationship with alcohol. I don't know if the 10pm cutoff helps, but I'm 100% sure I would not like to see 24 hour off-licenses and I'd wager most A&E nurses and guards who work night shift would agree.

The thinking here seems to be "I'm a decent ordinary person who just wants a few cans after work", and no doubt you are - but if you get your 24 hour off license, it will be available to all the scumbags who just want to cause trouble too. I presume the law is aimed at them.

An extension to 11/11.30 on weekends probably wouldn't be a bad idea.

If the 10pm limit is a public health issue, why are pubs open til 11:30 and nightclubs til 04:00?

The answer is.....it has nothing to do with public health. It is government protectionism for the vintners lobby, as seen again with the recent attempt at minimum pricing.

thattequilagirl · 17-01-2016 11:59AM

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

In fairness, none of these are good arguments for prohibiting the sale of alcohol after 10pm.

Television is banned after 10pm.

- Not watching TV for a night won't kill anyone either

- There are loads of alternative things to do apart from watching TV

- There's demand for heroin and Coke too...

Those were specific replies to a previous argument where someone said "There is no alternative to alcohol" amongst other things (a worrying statement in itself!)

Alcohol is a regulated substance for a reason - you don't find people rocking up to A&E on a nightly basis with TV related injuries.

Little CuChulainn · 17-01-2016 12:02PM

I use to work in an off licence and I loved the strict closing times. Made it real easy to deal with the tossers who would start knocking at the shutter after I was closed. Meant I could get home on time. I'd say bar staff wished times were enforced more strictly in pubs too.

thattequilagirl · 17-01-2016 12:02PM

suicide_circus wrote: »

If the 10pm limit is a public health issue, why are pubs open til 11:30 and nightclubs til 04:00?

The answer is.....it has nothing to do with public health. It is government protectionism for the vintners lobby, as seen again with the recent attempt at minimum pricing.

In theory, a bar man should cut you off when you've had enough, and serves you drinks in specific measures (as opposed to doing beer bongs at a house party)

It may pander to the publican, you're right, but it also serves a public health purpose.

Maximus Alexander · 17-01-2016 12:06PM

thattequilagirl wrote: »

Those were specific replies to a previous argument where someone said "There is no alternative to alcohol" amongst other things (a worrying statement in itself!)

Alcohol is a regulated substance for a reason - you don't find people rocking up to A&E on a nightly basis with TV related injuries.

Fair enough, I just think those particular points were so general as to be meaningless.

thattequilagirl · 17-01-2016 12:07PM

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

Fair enough, I just think those particular points were so general as to be meaningless.

Context is everything!

suicide_circus · 17-01-2016 12:10PM

thattequilagirl wrote: »

In theory, a bar man should cut you off when you've had enough, and serves you drinks in specific measures (as opposed to doing beer bongs at a house party)

It may pander to the publican, you're right, but it also serves a public health purpose.

Haven't done a beer bong in years. Good times.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 17-01-2016 12:28PM

Didn't read the thread but there's nothing as frustrating as leaving a pub or club on a Saturday night, wanting to continue the party, and there's not a drop to be got anywhere at 3am. I'd like off licences to be open all night

The Backwards Man · 17-01-2016 01:07PM

LexieOnRale wrote: »

Didn't read the thread but there's nothing as frustrating as leaving a pub or club on a Saturday night, wanting to continue the party, and there's not a drop to be got anywhere at 3am. I'd like off licences to be open all night

I feel the same about banks not opening on a Sunday, but I just have to adapt and go when they are open. C'est la vie

screamer · 17-01-2016 01:13PM

I think the emergency services have enough crap to deal with without having 24 hour access to purchase alcohol. Other shops pharmacies banks and businesses which are far more useful and needed than booze close at certain times and we all accept it and work around it. Time for a big spoon of grow up I think........

Herb Powell · 17-01-2016 01:31PM

thattequilagirl wrote: »

The thinking here seems to be "I'm a decent ordinary person who just wants a few cans after work", and no doubt you are - but if you get your 24 hour off license, it will be available to all the scumbags who just want to cause trouble too. I presume the law is aimed at them.

Absolute nonsense. Do you think scumbags wanting to cause trouble need alcohol to do so? "There might be scumbags" is not a great reason.

thattequilagirl wrote: »

In theory, a bar man should cut you off when you've had enough, and serves you drinks in specific measures (as opposed to doing beer bongs at a house party)

It may pander to the publican, you're right, but it also serves a public health purpose.

Yeah, in theory. I have seen a barman stop serving someone exactly once in my life. And the funny thing is he wasn't even drunk.

It's a money thing, has zero to do with public health.

Though many on here see to have fallen for the "it's for your own good" line. At least they're "doing something about it", right ?

thattequilagirl · 17-01-2016 01:35PM

Herb Powell wrote: »

Absolute nonsense. Do you think scumbags wanting to cause trouble need alcohol to do so? "There might be scumbags" is not a great reason.

Yeah, in theory. I have seen a barman stop serving someone exactly once in my life. And the funny thing is he wasn't even drunk.

It's a money thing, has zero to do with public health.

Though many on here see to have fallen for the "it's for your own good" line. At least they're "doing something about it", right ?

So you don't think 24 hour access to alcohol would increase pressure on our already buckling A&Es?

Herb Powell · 17-01-2016 01:47PM

thattequilagirl wrote: »

So you don't think 24 hour access to alcohol would increase pressure on our already buckling A&Es?

No, I actually don't.

As it is, a lot of Irish people have a real feast or famine attitude with regards to alcohol, i.e get pissed on the weekend, abstain during the week. This is compounded by our ridiculous licensing laws. Have to get everything before 10? Last call around midnight? Better buy a rake of booze in case, keep the party going :rolleyes:

If there was a change in the licensing laws, we'd probably see problems for a short while, but once people are actually treated like adults, I think this culture might have a chance of dying off.

As it is, people are drinking less and less. Young people in particular. Someone gave me exact figures on here (I'd repost if I could remember where) showing the decline in consumption was underway before the 10pm measures etc came in.

I don't think you need a tinfoil hat to see it as a cynical attempt at protectionism, and little else.

endacl · 17-01-2016 01:48PM

buried wrote: »

Question for the posters in here who see no problem with the 10 pm off-licence closing hour. What do ye think the reason is that the off-licences have to close on the dot at 10 pm? I mean, ye see no problem with the closure hour, you agree with it, so, what's the logic or reason for it? There must be some reason as some of you strongly agree with it. I can't see the reasoning in it at all so I'd like to hear why does the 10 pm closure hour make sense to some of you folks?

So the people who work there can leave and get on with their lives. I used, many moons ago, to work in a video shop. Pay was kinda crappy, and the hours were long. The computer went off at closing time, and no more tapes were handed out. I was finished. If renting a movie was that important to you, you should have left five minutes earlier.

buried · 17-01-2016 01:50PM

endacl wrote: »

So the people who work there can leave and get on with their lives. I used, many moons ago, to work in a video shop. Pay was kinda crappy, and the hours were long. The computer went off at closing time, and no more tapes were handed out. I was finished. If renting a movie was that important to you, you should have left five minutes earlier.

Were you the only employee in this place?

buried · 17-01-2016 01:51PM

Where's this "24 hour" argument coming from? Surely the opening hours should be the same as the pub opening hours, not the "24 hours" some are using here for whatever reason

thattequilagirl · 17-01-2016 01:52PM

Herb Powell wrote: »

thattequilagirl wrote: »

So you don't think 24 hour access to alcohol would increase pressure on our already buckling A&Es?

No, I actually don't.

As it is, a lot of Irish people have a real feast or famine attitude with regards to alcohol, i.e get pissed on the weekend, abstain during the week. This is compounded by our ridiculous licensing laws. Have to get everything before 10? Last call around midnight? Better buy a rake of booze in case, keep the party going :rolleyes:

If there was a change in the licensing laws, we'd probably see problems for a short while, but once people are actually treated like adults, I think this culture might have a chance of dying off.

As it is, people are drinking less and less. Young people in particular. Someone gave me exact figures on here (I'd repost if I could remember where) showing the decline in consumption was underway before the 10pm measures etc came in.

I don't think you need a tinfoil hat to see it as a cynical attempt at protectionism, and little else.

I think it's massively optimistic (naive?) of you to think that extending opening hours would reduce binge drinking.

Azalea · 17-01-2016 01:57PM

The Sidewards Man wrote: »

How will people survive Good Friday?

If they just want to drink, they can buy ahead.

But if they want to head out to the pub for the social aspect, it's crap that they don't have the option when they're not religious. One year my friend wanted to have her going-away party in Dublin city centre on the date good Friday was - for her it was about getting together with friends, not drinking (seeing as she was nearly six months pregnant) but she couldn't because of the church and she's not even religious, nor are most of her friends. It's nonsense

People like to pretend "Oh they can't cope for one day without drink" but that's actually missing the point massively.

Azalea · 17-01-2016 02:03PM

thattequilagirl wrote: »

It's not that I strongly agree with it, I just don't understand why some people on here so strongly disagree with it. It's really not that hard to plan for it..

But sometimes it's not planned for - it's just off the cuff, plans changing etc. People would just like the option should the wish arise.
The "sensible" crew in relation to this and Good Friday are most tiresome. They're not even thinking, they're just firing out patronising soundbites for thanks (with sneery, passive aggressive, trollish ":)" symbols) - and protesting too much in the case of those who are very fond of their drink indeed.

11.30pm closing of the offy on a Friday and Saturday night would be enough in my opinion.

thattequilagirl · 17-01-2016 02:09PM

Azalea wrote: »

thattequilagirl wrote: »

It's not that I strongly agree with it, I just don't understand why some people on here so strongly disagree with it. It's really not that hard to plan for it..

But sometimes it's not planned for - it's just off the cuff, plans changing etc. People would just like the option should the wish arise.
The "sensible" crew in relation to this and Good Friday are most tiresome. They're not even thinking, they're just firing out patronising soundbites for thanks - and protesting too much in the case of those who are very fond of their drink indeed.

11.30pm closing of the offy on a Friday and Saturday night would be enough in my opinion.

Yup, extending it at the weekend is a fair idea. If this was posted in the Trivial Things That Annoy Me thread I'd say fair enough, I just can't get over people on here acting like access to alcohol is some kind of right?

I'd consider it a fairly rare occurrence that you'd have a spontaneous get together after 10pm. If it's a common occurrence, have a bottle of something in the press.

I used to get two bottles of wine with my housemates around 8 or 9 on a summer evening, then we'd have 'the chat' again at 9.50 to see did we want two more.

Off licences and draconian closing times

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