Extending opening hours 'will increase the amount of harm from alcohol', committee told

Alcohol licences will be allowed for museums and galleries, while pubs will be permitted to stay open for longer until 12.30am, along with extended hours for nightclubs.

The amount of harm from alcohol will increase if the hours of availability are increased, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

Professor Frank Murray, chair of Alcohol Action Ireland, said the public health harms from alcohol are “directly related to the number of outlets” and the “hours of opening”.