Protesters fight for their right to party

“Bring it on…Bring it on.” that was the call of protesters today at a demonstration against provisions in the Intoxicating Liquor Bill, regarding nightclub opening hours.

Despite the drizzle, there was dancing in the streets outside the Dail at lunchtime today (July 2), as well as placcards, a DJ, dozens of reporters, lots of photographers and one determined crowd with Amanda Brunker and Ray Shah thrown in for good measure. All this comotion was to call on Dermot Ahern, Brian Cowen and other TDs to pay attention to the “grave inadequacies and outrageous inaccuracies” of the bill.

The protest was organised by GiveUsTheNight.com, who are a non-profit organisation made up of music industry professionals who have been campaigning for several years to bring about change in licencing laws, particularly those related to nightclubs.

Promoter Buzz O’Neill addressed the crowd at the protest in a speech that would suit the climax of any great blockbuster script. “Hands off our jobs, and hands off our livelihood” he blared, cheered on by the enthused crowd.

However, he did acknowledge some well-meaning parts of the bill: “...the correct separation of alcohol products from regular food and drink products. The aim being to curb the association children make from a young age that alcohol is just another type of commodity. On the one hand, yesterday the drinks industry rightly signed up to a new code of practice governing advertising of alcohol products at certain times of the day and putting a cap of 25% on a stations total advertising output... All very worthy most people will agree, until you further examine what they propose to do on the other hand”.

And what’s in Dermot Ahern’s other hand? “A blanket ban on all alcohol sales past 2.30am Monday to Saturday, and bizarrely 1am on Sundays” says Buzz O’Neill. Among consequences of the bill that campaigners were voicing were job losses in the nightclub industry, an increase in anti-social behaviour and violence on the streets after the clubs spill out, restricting those who wish to go out on Sunday nights, puttin immense strain on public transport, catering, and emergency services, a decrease in artists and DJs coming to Ireland and negative effects on the tourism industry.

Protesters got full marks for efforts in poster making. “Yes to Europe but no to European nightlife” was one of note, as well as “Aren’t we a bit old to be needing a nanny state?” and “Europe’s youngest Population but Oldest Laws.” Many demonstrators hung on the European argument, commenting that the youth vote had influenced he Lisbon result, and it was time that the Government listened to young people. They also said that we were looking for no more than our European counterparts have.

To re-enforce his point, Buzz O’Neill asked the crowd, “How many of you were out at the weekend?,” Onlookers and protestors replied “yes” in the form of a cheer, “How many stayed out past 2.30am?” Another cheer, he went on, “How many of you caused criminal damage, or engaged in a criminal act?”… Silence was the response to this one. He had made his point. Buzz went on: “this bill wants to tar everyone with the same brush and by proxy criminalise us all”.

In a Braveheart-esque conclusion to his speech, Buzz called on the supporters and issued a warning to those in power: “We need to get active, we need to lobby, and we need to be involved in the process of government on this island... So I say this to you minister Ahern and especially to you Taoiseach Cowen: if you want to make this a political issue, if you want to take on the youth of this country, if you want to take on the very future of this island, we say to you – bring it on, bring it on!"

As the Minister for Justice and the Taoiseach debate this bill through the Dail, they must now be aware that the youth of this country are a force to be reckoned with, and when it comes to nighclubs, they will not be backing down.