Nighttime ban on children in bars will ‘hurt tourism’

IRISH holidaymakers will go abroad rather than take breaks at home if the Government’s nighttime ban on children in bars is not eased, a hotels leader has warned.

More than one million of the six million annual visitors to the country’s hotels are part of a family unit, and Irish tourists account for around two-thirds of the total.

Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) president Richard Bourke said that, despite the Government decision to allow minors remain in bars until 10pm between May and September, the tourist market will still be hit hard because families will be unable to take late meals in hotel restaurants.