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18th Jan 2016

If this campaign has its way, you will legally be able to buy alcohol in Ireland on Good Friday this year

Conor Heneghan

#Abouttime.

The ban on alcohol sales in Ireland could be lifted as early as this year if a campaign launched by publicans across the country today has the desired effect.

The Licensed Vintners Association & Vintners Federation of Ireland today launched a joint campaign to end the ban on the sale of alcohol on Good Friday, which they wish to come into effect in time for the Easter Rising commemorations this year.

The ban on the sale of alcohol has been in effect since the introduction of The Intoxicating Liquor Act, introduced in 1927, which prohibited the sale of alcoholic drinks on Christmas Day, Good Friday and St Patrick’s Day.

The ban on the sale of alcohol on St. Patrick’s Day was lifted in 1960 to accommodate tourists travelling to Ireland for the big day, a development which has been heartily celebrated by locals since.

The campaign is already gaining momentum via the #Abouttime hashtag on Twitter and, if it proves effective, those massive queues for the off-license on Holy Thursday will soon become a thing of the past.

What do you think? Time to get rid of the ban for good?

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