Hotels ‘abusing’ theatre licences to sell alcohol until 5am

HOTELS and theatres are getting around closing times by using late-night theatre licences to sell alcohol up to as late as 5am.

Official figures show there has been a 30% rise in the number of theatre licences issued this year.

A total of 98 licences have been granted in 2008, compared with 76 in 2007, 76 in 2006, 68 in 2005 and 63 in 2004.

The licences allow alcohol to be sold for “half an hour” after a performance has finished, enabling venues to serve drink up until 4am or 5am.

The licences are issued by the Revenue Commissioners and not the local district court — preventing local gardaí from objecting to the issuing of the licence.

The figures, released by Finance Minister Brian Cowen, show most of the increase has taken place in Dublin, with 57 issued this year, compared with 35 in 2007, an increase of 63%.

The information was provided to Labour TD Tommy Broughan in response to a parliamentary question.

“I’ve received complaints about hostelries using theatre licences,” said Mr Broughan. “Why does a hotel need such a licence? It allows you to keep selling drink half an hour after a performance. The allegation is they are being abused.”

He said from what he heard gardaí in local areas were worried about the trend.

“They’re very unhappy, they feel young people are able to drink to 4.30am. The allegation is it’s getting a bit out of line.”

Mr Broughan said it was “astonishing” the local district courts did not regulate the licensing and that it was controlled by the Revenue.

Mr Cowen told Mr Broughan each licence application was subjected to “individual scrutiny”, which included a requirement, where necessary, to produce a list of events to be carried out on the premises.

Mr Cowen added: “While the Revenue Commissioners do not specifically make contact with An Garda Síochána or the District Court, I understand that the Revenue Commissioners have been in touch with the Department of Justice on matters concerning the law relating to the granting of theatre licences.”

Mr Broughan said the rise in theatre licences was part of the overall explosion in the sale of alcohol, most clearly manifested in the mushrooming of off-licences.

Figures published by the Irish Examiner last month showed there were 4,300 off-licences in 2007, compared with 3,612 in 2005.

“The explosion in off-licences would be my chief concern. Every Tom, Dick or Harry now seems to have an off-licence,” said Mr Broughan.

In a response to a related question from Mr Broughan, Justice Minister Brian Lenihan said the Government Alcohol Advisory Group was due to report to him by the end of the month on the law governing the sale and the consumption of alcohol.

“I intend to bring forward urgent proposals for changes in the law which I hope will be enacted before the summer recess,” he said.

“In parallel with this, work will continue on the drafting of a comprehensive sale of alcohol bill, which is already included in the Government legislation programme for 2008 and which will modernise the law in this area.”