Ireland will never be the same!
Found this on Bloomberg news - Sounds like it needed to be done though....
Ireland Outlaws `Happy Hours' in Pubs Ahead of 2004 Smoking Ban
2003-08-14 11:03 (New York)
Ireland Outlaws `Happy Hours' in Pubs Ahead of 2004 Smoking Ban
Aug. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Ireland will ban ``happy hours'' and
other drinks promotions in its 10,000 pubs starting Monday in an
effort to curb rowdy behavior on streets and in bars.
The move comes less than five months before the government
follows New York City in outlawing smoking in pubs, a move aimed
at reducing deaths from lung cancer.
Justice Minister Michael McDowell, who drafted the law
banning smoking in pubs, today signed an order to introduce the
Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003. The measure also will make it an
offense to allow people younger than 18 in pubs after 9 p.m. and
will move closing time on Thursdays to 11:30 p.m. from 12:30 a.m.
Alcohol-related problems cost Ireland about 2.4 billion
euros ($2.7 billion) a year in costs for health care, crime and
road accidents and lost productivity, Health Minister Michael
Martin has said. Per-capita alcohol consumption surged 49 percent
in Ireland between 1989 and 2001, fueled by economic growth.
The law ``demonstrates the determination of the government
to urgently address the public-order and public-health worries
arising from excessive alcohol consumption,'' McDowell said in an
e-mailed statement.
The ban on drinks promotions and smoking in pubs comes as
sales of beer in Ireland continue to stall because slower
economic growth is reducing spending power and drinkers are
switching to wine and spirits.
About a third of Irish people smoke, the government has
said, and 41 percent of drinkers smoke, according to the Licensed
Vintners' Association.![]()
![]()
Ireland Outlaws `Happy Hours' in Pubs Ahead of 2004 Smoking Ban
2003-08-14 11:03 (New York)
Ireland Outlaws `Happy Hours' in Pubs Ahead of 2004 Smoking Ban
Aug. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Ireland will ban ``happy hours'' and
other drinks promotions in its 10,000 pubs starting Monday in an
effort to curb rowdy behavior on streets and in bars.
The move comes less than five months before the government
follows New York City in outlawing smoking in pubs, a move aimed
at reducing deaths from lung cancer.
Justice Minister Michael McDowell, who drafted the law
banning smoking in pubs, today signed an order to introduce the
Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003. The measure also will make it an
offense to allow people younger than 18 in pubs after 9 p.m. and
will move closing time on Thursdays to 11:30 p.m. from 12:30 a.m.
Alcohol-related problems cost Ireland about 2.4 billion
euros ($2.7 billion) a year in costs for health care, crime and
road accidents and lost productivity, Health Minister Michael
Martin has said. Per-capita alcohol consumption surged 49 percent
in Ireland between 1989 and 2001, fueled by economic growth.
The law ``demonstrates the determination of the government
to urgently address the public-order and public-health worries
arising from excessive alcohol consumption,'' McDowell said in an
e-mailed statement.
The ban on drinks promotions and smoking in pubs comes as
sales of beer in Ireland continue to stall because slower
economic growth is reducing spending power and drinkers are
switching to wine and spirits.
About a third of Irish people smoke, the government has
said, and 41 percent of drinkers smoke, according to the Licensed
Vintners' Association.
