Gardai push to remove all late licences

There's been an angry response to the news that the Gardai want to implement a blanket 1.30am closing time for pubs and clubs around the country. The proposal, aimed to curb alcohol-related crime, would be effected by the opposing of all renewals of late licences.

"Although there are problems with drink related public order offences in our towns and cities," says Labour Party Senator Derek McDowell, "we must ensure that the vast majority of people who go out to have a drink, a dance and to socialise and who don't cause trouble are not penalised because of the behaviour of an unruly minority. I can't think of any European city that refuses its adult population the option of going to a nightclub. In fact, it's the norm."

Echoing the sentiments of the Irish Nightclubs Association, McDowell proffers that, "Uniform closing times will only result in thousands of people trying to get a taxi or a Nitelink or fast food at the same time and hence increase the potential for trouble."

A spokesman for one of Dublin's leading club promoters, Bodytonic, agrees that a blanket 1.30am shut down will "Probably make the situation even worse. If this goes through there will be potentially up to 2000 people in Dublin alone who work in the nightclub industry out of a job. This is more than about just going out, this is a curtailment of your civil liberties."

Bodytonic and the Irish Nightclub Industry Association are urging people to sign an online petition or text 'dance + your name' (i.e. dancejohndoe) to 51500.