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Kilkenny Borough Council has decided that existing restrictions on public drinking can potentially be relaxed for certain festivals and events. However, an application for a temporary relaxation must be approved by two-thirds of councillors, who can also decide on the areas and times where public drinking is allowed.
Fine Gael Clllr. Paul Cuddihy has expressed disappointment at the relaxation, arguing “I think we should leave well enough alone. I’m not convinced there is any advantage to this. We have worked hard to build an image of Kilkenny as a family-friendly place. Why do we want to relax these laws – who is going to benefit?”
The main argument for the relaxation of the law is that Kilkenny could now potentially host a variety of outdoor events where alcohol availability could benefit attendees, local businesses and festival organisers. More events could improve the reputation of the town in terms of tourism.
While any relaxations would be strictly controlled by the Council, critics point out alcohol consumption should be restricted to pubs and other licensed establishments as opposed to public spaces. There are also concerns about potential consequences: there are already social problems with public alcohol consumption in towns & cities nationwide, despite bans and regulations. This is particularly amplified during public holidays and special events.
Although the decision was made by Kilkenny Borough Council almost two weeks ago, the move is attracting attention in light of the ongoing controversy about tomorrow’s Arthur’s Day ‘celebrations’. In our poll on Monday, over 66% of voters said they have a problem with the annual Diageo-organised event. There is a growing movement to have stricter alcohol laws introduced in the country as opposed to relaxations of existing rules.
Do you agree more councils and local authorities should relax restrictions on public drinking, albeit in a controlled manner? Can a city or town benefit from outdoor events where alcohol consumption is allowed? Should we be pushing for stricter, not more lenient, legislation in this area? Vote in our poll and leave your comments below.
