Boost for bars in Kildare as historic Good Friday approaches with alcohol ban lifted

Tomorrow will mark the first day in the history of the Irish State that pub owners will be able to welcome in trade on Good Friday.

For 90 years there has been a blanket ban on pubs and licenced premises selling alcohol on Good Friday due to the State's connection with the Catholic Church, but recent legislation has had that prohibition lifted.

The arguments against the ban on sales of alcohol was that Ireland has become so multi-cultural and secular that the rule was restricting pub owners and the general population who have no affiliation towards the Catholic Church.

The allowance on the sale of alcohol is likely to be a major boost to traders, and the Vinters Federation of Ireland Chief Executive, Padraig Cribben, said: “The Good Friday ban is from a different era and is rightfully consigned to history. Like all other businesses who were never subject to a ban, publicans now have a choice to open.

“Pubs opening on Good Friday is good news, both for publicans and their customers but also for the many tourists who visit Ireland over the Easter weekend, who in the past would find the pubs closed during a major holiday.”

It is estimated Good Friday will generate over €40m in sales for pubs throughout the country.

Good Friday will also generate over €7m in VAT and Excise Duty contributions to the Exchequer.

The VFI Chief Executive says the Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2017, which removed the prohibition on selling alcohol during Good Friday, reflects Ireland’s status as a mature nation.

“The Good Friday ban was introduced a lifetime ago in 1927 and we took the view that such a piece of archaic and discriminatory legislation needed to be removed.

“Times have changed and the new law reflects this reality.”