This action is being taken instead of an all-out ban on takeaway drinks.
It was
reported on Monday afternoon that the authorities were looking to outlaw takeaway pints due to large gatherings over the weekend.
This possible action was met with harsh criticism by some publicans, who stated that if pubs were to be closed, then all off-licences would need to be closed, too.
https://twitter.com/nugentsbar/status/1328408445771538432
Late on Monday night, it was reported instead that the government are planning to introduce fines for those who drink alcohol in groups while outdoors.
There are already fines of €300 in place for customers who drink alcohol within 100 metres of a pub, and an additional fine for the licence holder of €1,500.
As it stands, it is not against the law to drink alcohol in public, as opposed to being drunk and disorderly in public, as Leo Varadkar spoke to earlier in the year:
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However, the bye laws he refers to do ban the consumption of alcohol in specific places. For example, in Dublin, drinking “any liquid containing alcohol” is banned in any place that the public has access to, with specific mention to parks, beaches, green spaces, canals and riverbanks.
Similar bye laws exist in many of the large cities and towns around the country.
These new proposals will be looking to set a fine, likely less than €300, for any member of a group of people drinking alcohol outdoors, likely with the specific aim to prevent crowds congregating on streets to drink.
The new fines are expected to be proposed to Cabinet as soon as possible.
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