It has been reported that a new bill was being presented to the Irish Upper House that would change a 90-year-old law in Ireland. The Good Friday alcohol sales ban would be lifted if the bill were to be passed, which many people took to Facebook and Twitter to celebrate. However, not everyone has found it to be such great news.
Colin NeillÊfrom Hospitality Ulster told The Irish Times that both the hospitality industry and Northern Ireland would be greatly affected by the new bill.
ÒThe hospitality industry will lose out on over £16 million (about Û19 million) of income, money that pays the rates [and] wages and sustains many small businesses across the province,Ó said Mr Neill.
Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, where the sale of alcohol is not permitted on Good Friday in bars and restaurants, but is still available for sale in retail outlets.
“Allowing pubs and restaurants [in Northern Ireland] to sell alcohol over Easter is not about religion, if it were they would ban supermarkets selling alcohol at 8am on Good Friday morning,Ó said Mr Neill.
Similarly, staff within the hospitality industry are upset over the bill, as it would affect them in a very specific way.
By Rory Cashin from joe.ie
