New restrictions on the sale of alcohol will have an impact on early houses.
Since 1927 certain public houses have been granted licences to open early in the morning to cater for workers in docks, shift workers and market traders and dealers. Some city centre pubs in Dublin still retain this licence, even though the fruit markets they originally served are in decline.
Times have changed however and in recent years it has been argued that these pubs (known colloquially as 'early houses') are increasingly used by late night revellers and encourage unhealthy patterns of alcohol consumption.
New legislation in the form of the Intoxicating Liquor Bill will include a repeal of the exemptions that allow licensed premises to open early.
Doctor Gordon Holmes, chairperson of the Government Alcohol Advisory Group tells RTÉ News the situation as it stands does not help people who want to drink early in the morning,
They are the people with the problems, with the serious health problems.
The Boar’s Head on Capel Street is one such pub that opens at half past seven in the morning. It’s not all about serving alcoholic drinks, says manager Michael Browne
We’ve got our early morning trade built up for a tea, coffee.
The proposals in today’s bill were received a broad welcome, and Government hopes to have it enacted before the summer,
That it will go some way to tackling our abuse of alcohol.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 23 April 2008. The reporter is Adrian Lydon.
