Good News for the Hospitality Industry – Good Friday Alcohol Sale Ban Lifted
The Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Act 2018 (the “2018 Act”) was signed into law by President Michael D. Higgins on 31 January 2018.
The 2018 Act brings an end to the 91-year ban on the sale of alcohol in Ireland on Good Friday, which falls on 30 March 2018. Alcohol can be sold this Good Friday by licensed premises in Ireland for the first time since 1927.
In a joint statement on behalf of the Licensed Vintners Association and the Vintners Federation of Ireland, Donall O’Keeffe, CEO of the Licensed Vintners Association, said “removing the ban is simple common sense”. O’Keeffe added “the extra day’s trade at such a busy time of year will be a welcome boost. This change is a win for our customers, our tourists, our suppliers and the wider hospitality sector.”
Adrian Cummins, Chief Executive of The Restaurants Association of Ireland, also welcomed the news and said “this is long overdue and will be a huge boost for Irish tourism in 2018 and bring Ireland in line with our EU colleagues and competitors.”
Minister of State for Justice at the Department of Justice and Equality with special responsibility for Equality, Immigration, and Integration, David Stanton, also noted the removal of the ban on selling alcohol on Good Friday will be a boost for Irish tourism and said the new law “simply amends the rules to allow for the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor on Good Friday in a consistent, non-discriminatory and comprehensive manner.”
The official Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Act 2018 can be accessed via the following link:
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2018/act/1/enacted/en/pdf.
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