FG wants pubs to close at 11.30 at weekend

PUB opening hours should be brought back to 11.30 on weekend nights, Fine Gael will propose today in a new tough policy on alcohol abuse.

The party will also call for a ban on all alcohol advertising, sponsorship and promotions to combat binge drinking among young people.

But FG will not be going ahead with its mooted proposal to raise the maximum legal age for drinking from 18 to 20.

Zero blood alcohol levels will apply for provisional drivers and the alcohol limit for fully licensed motorists will be almost halved, under the FG plan.

Nightclubs will be required to install close-circuit television cameras inside and outside their premises to tackle violence on the streets

Under legislation introduced in 2000, pubs can open until 12.30am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The extension has been criticised for increased levels of drunkenness, greater public disorder and more accidents and injuries.

The Commission on Liquor Licensing recommended earlier this month that Thursday opening be brought back to 11.30 as the late opening was resulting in people failing to show up for school, college and work on Friday mornings.

Suggesting a return to the old system, Fine Gael are stating that the 11.30pm closing time would apply Monday to Saturday and the existing 11pm trading hours remain on Sunday.

The Fine Gael Action Plan on Alcohol Abuse will also oppose any liberalisation of the licensing laws or extension of the granting of licences to small café-sized pubs.

The 10-point policy document, to be launched this morning by FG leader Enda Kenny and FG justice spokesman John Deasy, will aim to cut back on the availability and access to alcohol.

The policy document is the finished product from a discussion paper circulated to party members at the end of February. The party says it has consulted a wide range of interested parties, including gardaí, vintners, health professionals, child protection agencies, youth representatives, victim support groups and academics.

In his discussion paper, Mr Deasy also proposed raising the legal drinking age to 20, but this move is not included in the final document, although it is left open for further examination.

Clamping down on pub licence transfers, Fine Gael will suggest the imposition of limits on the sizes of new pubs where the licence is being moved from another premises.