The Minister for Justice is to bring forward urgent measures to keep young people out of pubs, reduce opening hours and curb drunkenness and disorder in public houses, write Carol Coulter and Mark Brennock
Mr McDowell will also propose major legislation within a year to curb "super-pub" development and introduce the concept of continental, café-style bars to "provide an atmosphere and ambience that encourages moderate social consumption of alcohol rather than the excessive consumption and binge drinking that have become so common in recent years".
Mr McDowell yesterday promised a short Intoxicating Liquor Bill within weeks to deal with urgent issues concerning under-age drinking and public order. The more substantial longer-term Bill will bring the State's disparate alcohol legislation under one Act.
He was responding to a report yesterday by the Commission on Liquor Licensing which recommended measures to tackle under-age and binge drinking and associated public order problems.
Mr McDowell said he was proposing that the major Bill to come within a year would impose a limit on the size of pubs. The small premises proposed by the Minister would be a place where you could "go for a cup of coffee and a croissant with someone who wants a glass of beer." However the Licensed Vintners Association, which represents pub owners outside Dublin, maintained last night that there were already too many pubs in the country. The Commission recommended that those wanting to open small café-style premises should be sold new licences by the State, removing the current requirement that an existing pub be closed before another is opened.
The Minister indicated that the current law allowing people aged 15 to 17 to be in a pub all night, so long as they did not drink alcohol, will be changed.
He also signalled support for moving Thursday pub closing time back from 12.30 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. Currently the closing time is 12.30 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Fine Gael's justice spokesman Mr John Deasy claimed last night that "café-style drinking" would not work "given Ireland's drinking culture. Increased access to alcohol will only add to existing problems".
Labour's spokesman Mr Joe Costello accused Mr McDowell of having failed to act on previous reports on alcohol reform.