Lower the drink age and scrap pub hours

I AGREE with Young Fine Gael’s call to lower the legal drinking age to 16, and to abolish these hideous and outdated closing hours. Young FG want pubs open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

I support this provided there are safeguards for bar staff like a strict limit on the number of hours worked per week, and no compulsion on staff to work bank or religious holidays like Easter or Christmas.

The ever-open policy would eliminate the mad rush for drink at last orders and throwing everyone out onto the streets at the same time. These changes would ensure a much more mature attitude towards drinking.