Renewed campaign for club-friendly licensing laws

The Give Us The Night campaign is renewing its attempts to have the licensing laws relating to Irish clubs changed.

21,000 people signed their 2004 petition calling for them to be allowed to serve alcohol until 3.30am, and then remain open until 6am with a non-alcoholic bar.

Since then, Justice Minister Michael McDowell has indicated that he may be prepared to introduce a continental style licensing system, where closing times are determined on a venue by venue basis.

“Granting later opening times to nightclubs would result in a drop in public order offences and would require less Garda resources to police the streets of our towns and cities at the weekend,” claims Give Us The Night spokesman Sunil Sharpe.

Joined in the coalition of DJs, promoters and dance music journalists by Richard Brophy, Simon Conway, John Mahon, Tonie Walsh and Arveene, Sharpe is asking people to read their broader proposals at www.giveusthenight.com and then sign the 2005 petition, which will be forwarded to the Minister.