Air-side and Oslo were the only places to get a drink

A double espresso was the strongest drink available before passengers went through the departure gates at Dublin airport yesterday.

However, once they got to the other side, the Good Friday ban on alcohol was lifted, and three bars offered the guilty pleasure of drinking on one of the two days in the year when alcohol sales are forbidden.

The Gate Clock bar in the departures lounge was open from 6am. "It is very busy here at the moment," said supervisor Emmet Fogarty. "I think that people who wouldn't usually have a drink have one on Good Friday just because they can . . . People are in good form, heading away for the holidays. "

It was a similar story in the Oslo Bar at Dublin's Connolly Station where alcohol sales are also permitted. "Yes, it's busy, very busy, I'm too busy to talk," said a harried bar worker.

In the airport, smokers faced the dilemma of whether to have a cigarette or a drink, according to Colm Ralph, bars manager with the Thomas Read group at Dublin airport. If they remained land-side, they could go outside for a cigarette. "One person wanted to know if they could go through for a drink and come back again for a cigarette," Mr Ralph said. "I'm afraid you can't."

He said bar staff on the land-side were not getting many complaints from customers once they explained that they couldn't have a drink until they went through the departure gates.

The beer taps were covered in the Sky View Bar so they could not taunt thirsty customers. A few people sat quietly nursing their soft drinks and coffees in the lounge.

"I'm running the Connemara marathon on Sunday so I could do with a drink," said Michael Ryan, who had just arrived from Brussels. "But to be honest it doesn't really matter when it's only one day in the year."

His father, Tom, agreed: "If I can't manage without a drink for one day in the year, then it's not saying much for me," he said.

French couple Pascal Thébaud and Pauline Le Jamtel were bemused at the Irish concern at not being able to drink alcohol. "We did not know you couldn't have a drink but we wouldn't have had a drink anyway, just some coffee and food," said Mr Thébaud. "I think young people and girls drink a lot here. I am shocked by that."

Off-licence owners enjoyed a brisk trade in the run-up to Good Friday. Many customers bought alcohol in the preceding days to get around the ban.

"The day before, Thursday, is a very busy day for off-licences," said Tom Mulqueen from the National Association of Off-Licences. "Wednesday was very busy, too."