Northern Ireland alcohol laws to be amended

It has been announced that Northern Ireland's laws on the sale of alcohol are to be changed, albeit Social Development Minister, Nelson McCausland, has rejected calls to bring Northern Ireland into line with England and Wales where "laws are less stringent".

The changes mean premises will be able to apply for an extension until 02.00 hours, 12 times every year.

Other changes include:

• restrictions on advertising alcohol in supermarkets and off-licences will be introduced;
• amendment to the Easter opening hours for public houses, with normal opening hours applying on the Thursday and Saturday before Easter;
• an extension to ‘drinking up time' from 30 minutes to one hour "to discourage customers drinking too quickly and to allow more gradual departure especially from large venues";
• the alignment of the alcohol and entertainment licensing systems to make enforcement of the law on late opening easier for the police;
• formal approval for codes of practice on the responsible sale of alcohol;
• minor changes to the law affecting private members' clubs; and
• smaller pubs without food or entertainment licenses, which are currently allowed to open until 01.00 for up to 20 occasions each year, will be able to open late for up to 85 occasions per year.

However, pubs will be banned from selling 'carry-outs' or allowing customers to remove alcohol from premises during late opening hours. Further, the Department for Social Development also want a ban on 'pour you own pint' tables and alcohol vending machines.