Irish Examiner view: Time to forge a new attitude to alcohol 

Our relationship with alcohol does not encourage optimism about the proposed extension of pub and club opening hours

Public health expert Thomas Babor cites the rise in assaults and injuries in the Netherlands and Norway associated with extensions of pub and club opening hours.  File picture: Yui Mok/PA 

Readers will no doubt be aware of the sweeping changes to the licensing laws envisaged in legislative proposals circulated earlier in the year. The General Scheme of the Sale of Alcohol Bill (2022) would allow alcohol licences for museums and galleries, pubs would stay open for longer, and nightclubs could remain open until 6am.

There is a long-running argument in favour of such liberal opening hours, one which is plausible enough. It centres on one unfortunate consequence resulting from the current legislation — a standard, universal closing time means the streets can be thronged with revellers all leaving hostelries at the same time, with the accompanying potential for misunderstandings, to put it politely.