Publicans all over the country are calling on the Government to amend the licensing laws to permit all licensed premises to trade normally on Good Friday. The two main representative groups, the Licensed Vintners Association and the Vintners Federation of Ireland, have described the current law which prohibits the sale of alcohol on Good Friday as “archaic and discriminatory”. On February 23rd, the LVA welcomed the introduction of an amendment to the Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2017 by Independent Senator Billy Lawless. The amendment, co-sponsored by Senators Michael McDowell, Victor Boyhan and Gerard Craughwell, calls for the lifting of the current ban on all licensed premises to sell alcohol on Good Friday. Padraig Cribben, CEO of the VFI, has pointed out that, for many publicans, Friday accounts for 30% of their weekly business – and this is especially true of bank holiday weekends. The LVA and the VFI are calling on the Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald to introduce the necessary legislation in time for Easter 2017 and to avoid further procrastination by deferring it to the Sale of Alcohol Bill.
