Publicans warn new laws will hasten rural pub closures

The Sale of Alcohol Bill aims to modernise the country's patchwork of laws governing alcohol sales in pubs, restaurants and off licences, some of which date back more than 200 years.

The liberalisation of pub licencing laws will decimate the number of rural pubs in Ireland, TDs and senators will be warned today.

At an Oireachtas hearing to discuss the Sale of Alcohol Bill, pub representative bodies will argue that proposals to increase the number of licensed premises will actually have the opposite effect in rural areas and drive current bar owners out of business.