Labour Party holds conference on licensing hours

national | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Tuesday March 31, 2009 13:40 by Phier

Labour party in favour of increasing opening hours.

Their motion states:

Conference notes the efforts of the legislature to reduce the abuse of alcohol by reducing access to alcohol by further limiting opening hours of pubs, night clubs and off-licenses.

Conference also notes that in today's society many people are working later hours and through out the week and weekend including Sundays.

Conference further notes that capping the opening hours of pubs, nightclubs and off-licenses is an unjustifiable and unnecessary hindrance for those working late hours any day of the week.

Conference believes that forcing these establishments to close at the same time creates an environment where the transport and food services as well as the Gardaí are stretched resulting in an increase in violence, vandalism and public order offences.

Conference believes that alcohol is to be enjoyed responsibly and that the current legislation restricts the rights of people to consume alcohol and that the current system does not help protect society from the effects of alcohol abuse.

Conference also believes that allowing pubs, clubs and nightclubs to extend their opening hours will alleviate the sudden rush created on the streets caused by the current system and will allow for those who work late or early hours on any day of the week to enjoy alcohol.

Conference calls for:
The licensing system to allow pubs, night clubs and off-licenses to extend their licenses as late or as early as the owners of the licenses like subject to the courts satisfaction with the license holders compliance and respect for other relevant laws.
Licensing laws to no longer force pubs, nightclubs and off-licenses to close earlier on weekdays or Sundays.
Alcohol regulation to switch from restricting the rights of people and businesses to the protection of people from those who are drunk and disorderedly and to increase support for those abusing alcohol.

Proposing Branch : NUI Galway/Galway West - (Galway West)

From their site, which also contains a poll on the matter.

As they're talking about something other than the recession i think now is the time to get writing again to politicians, taxi drivers, gardai, and nightclub union representatives if you too have an opinion on the matter.