NI Pubs: Executive agrees to scrap ALL restrictions on sale of alcohol at Easter - 'drinking up time' to increase from 30 minutes to one hour

Communities Minister, Carál Ní Chuilín MLA, made the announcement on Thursday morning.

Minister Ní Chuilín said the proposed changes will provide "vital support for the hospitality industry" in Northern Ireland.

“I believe these proposals represent a balanced package of measures aimed at tackling alcohol misuse and promoting responsible consumption, whilst providing vital support for the hospitality industry.

"This support is needed now more than ever as the industry begins its recovery from COVID-19," said the Minister.

The proposals will now be included in a bill which will be taken through the legislative process in the assembly, before becoming law.

They include changes in relation to late opening hours for pubs, Easter trading arrangements, advertising in supermarkets, and special events.

The legal framework that regulates the sell of alcohol in Northern Ireland is the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.

The current law allows for pubs to sell alcohol between 5.00pm and 11.00pm on Good Friday - under these new proposals, all restrictions on the selling of alcohol in puds during Easter would be scrapped.

The key proposals include:

- Introduction of an occasional additional late opening hour for certain licensed premises and changes to bring Easter opening hours for public houses in line with the rest of the year.

- Extension of drinking-up time.

- The alignment of the alcohol and entertainment licensing systems.

- Changes relating to children on licensed premises.

- Prohibition of self-service and vending machines.

- Formal approval for codes of practice on responsible retailing.

- Changes to the law affecting private members clubs.

For more information on the proposals that will brought before MLAs in the Stormont assembly chamber visit www.communities-ni.gov.uk/articles/proposed-changes-liquor-licensing-laws-northern-ireland