Relaxing NI pub opening hours: Warm welcome from hospitality sector but church ‘dismayed’ and addiction charity ‘concerned’

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

So called ‘drinking-up time’ will also be extended to an hour, meaning licenced premises will be able to stay open until 3am at weekends. All the restrictions around Easter drinking will also be removed.

The news has been widely welcomed by business and political sector but strongly challenged by the chair of Addiction NI and the Church of Ireland.

Communities Minister, Caral Ni Chuilin said: “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.”

The changes will also enable local drinks producers to sell their products directly to the public in limited circumstances, make changes to the law affecting registered private clubs and allow changes to permitted hours at major events, such as last year’s Open golf championship.

The amendments will also include new restrictions on advertising of alcoholic drinks and introduce a statutory code of practice on responsible retailing.

The Department for Communities said the plans would bring NI into line with the situation in GB and recent changes in the south.

“The modernisation of our licensing legislation in relation to extended opening hours and special events will bring us closer to the policy in many European cities, including Dublin and London,” it added. “The changes therefore will play a vital role in supporting our hospitality industry and attracting tourists as well as bringing benefits to the broader community.”

Colin Neill, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, said it was the most significant change to licensing laws in a generation and an important development at a time when the industry is facing significant challenges from coronavirus.

He said: “Prior to coronavirus, despite being a £2 billion a year industry and the backbone of the tourism offer, the growth potential of the hospitality sector was being curtailed by the outdated legislation.

“As we look to rebuild the hospitality sector here after coronavirus, it is imperative that businesses have all the tools necessary to thrive.”

Similarly, Chair of the Campaign for Real Ale Northern Ireland Ruth Sloan said it was “really pleased that the Assembly has finally been given a chance to bring our alcohol laws into the 21st century”.

SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan said the change was long overdue and would provide “vital support for the hospitality industry” while North Down Green Party MLA Rachel Woods also said the laws “have been in need of reform for many years now”.

At present alcohol can only be served between 5pm and 11pm on Good Friday and bars have to stop serving at midnight on Thursday and Easter Saturday.

But the Church of Ireland Church and Society Commission (CASC) said it was “dismayed” by the proposals. It does not consider Easter opening hours “in any way restrictive, given the significance of the week as an event of great religious importance - it is the only day restrictions are in place...” and also expressed concern that the general relaxing of the laws may be linked to anti-social behaviour through potential increased alcohol consumption, it added.

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland said: “This is an ongoing and important issue that has wide-ranging consequences and serious adverse effects for the health of individuals, relationships within families and society as a whole.”

It welcomed the fact that Minister Ní Chuilín said her plans would tackle alcohol misuse and promote responsible consumption and said it would comment further after seeing the proposed legislation.

GP and Chair of Addiction NI Dr George O’Neill said he would be “concerned” about relaxing NI’s licencing laws “especially in relation to young people and especially to the consequences of the disinhibition caused by the abuse of alcohol”.

He argued for minimum unit pricing, saying it had resulted in fewer deaths, hospital admissions and less crime in Scotland Canada and Australia. NI has 170,000 hazardous drinkers who put themselves at risk and it costs NI £1bn a year to deal with alcohol abuse, he said. “We have to get a balance - how can we control the abuse of alcohol because it affects all of us?” he said.

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