Seanad debates
Wednesday, 18 June 2003
Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Second Stage.
Senator Terry made an interesting point about section 10, which changes the closure times from 12.30 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. on Thursday nights, and raised the prospect of extending this to Fridays and Saturdays. Following a meeting of the local authority last night, I discovered the local hotel in the town centre had discontinued its discos at weekends. An adjoining fast food outlet closed recently, too. The problem of public disorder which often emanated around closing time from the fast food outlet, in a special exemption area, has gone. I hope it will not return. It highlights the point that special exemption orders result in people leaving premises late at night under the influence of drink, congregating in areas and getting into conflict with each other. People can drink until 10.30 p.m., 11.30 p.m. or 12.30 a.m.
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