Responsible sale of alcohol: the law behind the bar

Ordinary pub hours in Ireland: Monday to Thursday 10:30am–11:30pm; Friday and Saturday 10:30am–12:30am; Sunday 12:30pm–11:00pm, with 30 minutes' drinking-up time. Later trading needs a Special Exemption Order from the District Court (latest 2:30am), a restaurant certificate (one extra hour with a substantial meal) or a specific licence. Live music or dancing needs a Public Music and Singing / Public Dancing licence. Serving outside your hours is an offence against the licence, not just the server.

• You must be 18 to buy or be served alcohol. Selling or giving alcohol to an under-18 carries a fine of up to €5,000 and a closure order for the licence holder (Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003, s.13).
• Under-15s must be supervised and may only be on the premises 10:30am–9pm (10pm May to September). 15–17s with a parent may stay later only at a private function with a substantial meal (s.14).
• The Garda Age Card is the proof of age the law recognises; a passport or driving licence also works. Altering an age card is an offence with up to 12 months' imprisonment.
• House rule that works: Challenge 25. If they look under 25, ask. Log refusals.

A 'drunken person' in law is someone intoxicated to the degree that they may be a danger to themselves or others. Supplying alcohol to a drunken person is an offence: €4,000 for a first offence, €5,000 after (2003 Act, s.5). Disorderly conduct is an offence and anyone asked to leave by the licensee or a Garda must do so (s.8). Signs: slurred speech, unsteady, loud, glassy eyes, spilling. Refuse early, politely, with a reason and an alternative: 'I can't serve you another drink, but I'll get you a water and call you a taxi.' Tell your manager and note it.

Under section 20 of the 2003 Act: happy hours are illegal; so are price cuts lasting less than three days, loyalty schemes that reward alcohol purchases, and bundles of free or reduced-price drink. The Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 adds minimum unit pricing (10 cent per gram of alcohol since January 2022) and restrictions on advertising. A 'two cocktails for €15 until 8pm' board is an offence; '€7.50 cocktails all week' is not.

• Be polite, produce the licence and the notices they ask for, and call the manager.
• Gardaí can enter licensed premises at any time to check compliance.
• Keep an incident book: refusals, ejections, injuries, with times and names. It protects staff and the licence.