DUP MLAs hail major relaxation of NI booze laws
The changes will extend the opening hours for venues, allow people to buy booze in cinemas, and remove restrictions around Easter trading.
Early opposition to the bill was voiced by groups as different as the PSNI, Unite the Union, and the Presbyterian Church.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAmong those hailing the new relaxed laws yesterday were Pam Cameron and Paula Bradley of the DUP a party which had historically been seen as inseparable from Protestant traditionalism (particularly under Rev Ian Paisley, who famously dubbed alcohol “the devil’s buttermilk”).
The Province’s previous licencing laws date back to 1996, before the Assembly was even formed.
They have been amended a handful of times since, but in relatively minor ways (such as curbing what the government called “irresponsible promotions” and expanding licences for outdoor cafe spaces).
Moves to ease trading laws in a more substantial way have been mooted ever since 2012, but never happened (in part due to Sinn Fein collapsing Stormont).
It is understood the bill will spell the following changes:
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad> On 104 occasions throughout the year, last orders will be changed from 1am for larger bars and hotels (with another half an hour for drinking-up), to 2am (with a full hour for drinking-up).
This means customers can stay on the premises until 3am, instead of having to leave at 1.30am.
However, smaller pubs will be limited to 1am last orders.
> Sunday opening hours will be the same as any other night. Currently pubs are restricted to 10pm generally, or midnight if they are granted extra hours.
> Cinemas can sell booze until 11pm
> Compulsory early closing of pubs during the Easter holidays is effectively ended.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdMs Bradley told MLAs: “I really welcome the fact we’ll finally get new modernised licensing laws over the line.
“This bill will bring about the biggest changes in licensing laws in a generation.”
Mrs Cameron meanwhile called the bill a “legislative milestone” and hailed “the progress that it represents”.
She recognised this will cause “some concern for some”, but added “we do need to strike that balance, and recognise the consumer demand”.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdWhilst “all of us have seen the damaging impact alcohol can have on people’s lives” she said, “this bill does not give any great latitude to exacerbating this problem”
More from this reporter:
——— ———
A message from the Editor:
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.
With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.
Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.
Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.
Alistair Bushe
Editor