The Licensed Vintners Association votes to abolish the Holy Hour where pubs close for sixty minutes in the afternoon.
The Holy Hour is a one hour closing restriction on pubs and hotels in the city limits of Dublin and Cork between 2.30 pm and 3.30 pm.
There are over 600 pubs in Dublin and in none of them will you be served drink during the Holy Hour.
The Holy Hour was introduced in the 1920s by Justice Minister Kevin O'Higgins in an effort to curtail afternoon drinking by the workforce.
Members of the Dublin-based Licensed Vintners Association have voted 60 per cent to 40 per cent in favour of putting an end to Holy Hour. The result of the ballot was announced at the Annual General Meeting of the Licensed Vintners Association.
Michael Madigan of the Vintners Association outlines the reason why they want the Holy Hour abolished. As food becomes more and more part of the pub trade, Mr Madigan believes that the pubs should be in a better position to cater for this growing demand particularly for tourists during the summer season.
The Dublin vintners also have the support of Cork publicans in favour of a holy hour abolition. He also points out that sporting fixtures which are often shown in pubs also clash with the current pub opening times.
The Director General of Bord Fáilte Michael McNulty welcomed the vintners decision. He would also like to see restaurants be able to serve spirits and beer in the same way as pubs serve food.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 29 March 1984. The reporter is Alan McCullough.
