Drinkers will enjoy longer pub opening hours from today under the Intoxicating Liquor Act signed into law by the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, yesterday.
The new pub hours regime abolishes the traditional summer and winter opening times with pubs now staying open up to one-and-a-half hours longer than before. There will be half an hour drinking up time all year around.
On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday nights, drink will be served until 12.30 a.m.
On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, pubs will stay open until 11.30 p.m.
The traditional "holy hour" from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays will be abolished and pubs can serve drink until 11 p.m. on Sunday night. On the eve of public holidays, closing time will be extended by one hour.
Mr O'Donoghue said new measures to clamp down on under-age drinking would come into effect today, with convictions of licensees leading to temporary closure of premises. The defence of "reasonable belief" will be abolished, with an obligation on licensees to be satisfied as to the age of a person before supplying alcohol.
The restrictions which created separate licensing arrangements for towns and cities, as opposed to rural areas, and the restrictions on new licences are abolished. This will lead to mobility of licences from over-provided rural areas to cities and towns.
Off-licences, including those attached to supermarkets, can now sell alcohol from 7.30 a.m. on all weekdays.
The need for nightclubs to provide a meal is abolished and they can serve drink until 2.30 a.m. with 30 minutes drinking up time.
Provisions for restaurants will not come into operation until October.
Mr O'Donoghue said the new Act sweeps away restrictive legislation governing access to the market, without undermining the economic basis for pub owners.
The revised pub opening hours have resulted in a new deal for bar workers in Dublin and Wicklow who are members of the Mandate union.
From today, Mandate bar workers will benefit from an immediate 26 per cent pay increase and the introduction of reduced working hours and new work rosters. This will bring the hourly rate at senior assistant grade from £8.21 to £10.35, increasing again in November.