Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008
In short
This law amends existing legislation concerning the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages, known as intoxicating liquor, and also modifies aspects of public order law. It primarily focuses on updating licensing rules and increasing fines for certain offenses.
What it regulates
- The sale and consumption times for intoxicating liquor, especially for off-premises consumption.
- The granting of new wine retailer's off-licences.
- The grounds on which the District Court can refuse to issue certificates for new off-licences.
- Amendments to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.
Who it concerns
- Individuals and businesses involved in the sale of intoxicating liquor (licensees).
- The District Court, in its role of issuing certificates for off-licences.
- The Garda Síochána and residents in the neighbourhood of premises applying for off-licences.
Key points
- It is unlawful to sell intoxicating liquor for off-premises consumption outside specific hours:
* Saint Patrick’s Day and Sundays: between 12:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
* Other days: between 10:30 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
- New wine retailer’s off-licences require a certificate from the District Court.
- The District Court can refuse a certificate for a new off-licence based on the applicant's character, the premises' unfitness or inconvenience, or the adequacy of existing licensed premises in the area.
- The District Court may impose a condition for a closed-circuit television system on the premises when granting a certificate.
Legal text
Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.
- ie)Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.
- ie)Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(
- s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 2008 Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Revised Act Acht Athbh… Open PDFOscail PDF Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 17 of 2008 INTOXICATING LIQUOR ACT 2008 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS PART 1 Preliminary and General Section 1. Short title, collective citations, construction and commencement. 2. Interpretation. 3. Repeal. PART 2 Sale and Consumption of Intoxicating Liquor 4. Amendment of section 2 of Act of 1927. 5. Amendment of section 4 of Act of 1927. 6. New wine retailer’s off-licence shall not be granted except pursuant to certificate issued by District Court. 7. Grounds on which District Court may refuse to give certificate in respect of new relevant off-licences. 8. Provisions supplementary to sections 6 and 7. 9. Amendment of section 3 of Act of 1927. 10. Amendment of section 5 of Act of 1927. 11. Amendment of section 21 of Act of 1927. 12. Amendment of section 30 of Act of 1988. 13. Amendment of section 36A of Act of 1988. 14. Insertion of new sections 37A, 37B and 37C into Act of 1988. 15. Amendment of section 9 of Act of 2003. 16. Regulations relating to sale, supply and consumption of intoxicating liquor. 17. Increase of certain fines in Licensing Acts 1833 to 2004. PART 3 Amendment of Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 18. Amendment of section 4 of Act of 1994. 19. Insertion of new sections 8A and 8B into Act of 1994. 20. Amendment of section 23A of Act of 1994. 21. Amendment of section 23B of Act of 1994. 22. Increase of certain fines in Act of 1994. SCHEDULE 1 Increase of Certain Fines in Licensing Acts 1833 to 2004 SCHEDULE 2 Increase of Certain Fines in Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 Acts Referred to Building Control Act 1990 1990, No. 3 Courts (No. 2) Act 1986 1986, No. 26 Courts of Justice Act 1924 1924, No. 10 Courts of Justice Acts 1924 to 1961 Criminal Justice Act 2006 2006, No. 26 Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 1994, No. 2 Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 2003 2003, No. 16 Criminal Justice (Public Order) Acts 1994 and 2003 Finance (1909-10) Act 1910 10 Edw. 7 & 1 Geo. 5, c.8 Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 2002, No. 9 Intoxicating Liquor Act 1927 1927, No. 15 Intoxicating Liquor Act 1943 1943, No. 7 Intoxicating Liquor Act 1960 1960, No. 18 Intoxicating Liquor Act 1962 1962, No. 21 Intoxicating Liquor Act 1988 1988, No. 16 Intoxicating Liquor Act 2000 2000, No. 17 Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 2003, No. 31 Licensing Act (Ireland) 1874 37 & 38 Vict., c.69 Licensing Acts 1833 to 2004 Private Security Services Act 2004 2004, No. 12 Registration of Clubs Acts 1904 to 2004 Number 17 of 2008 INTOXICATING LIQUOR ACT 2008 AN ACT TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE LICENSING ACTS 1833 TO 2004, THE COURTS OF JUSTICE ACTS 1924 TO 1961, THE REGISTRATION OF CLUBS ACTS 1904 TO 2004 AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE (PUBLIC ORDER) ACT 1994, AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS. [21st July, 2008] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: PART 1 Preliminary and General Short title, collective citations, construction and commencement. 1.—
- b)in subsection (1A), by substituting “Without prejudice to subsection (1C), the” for “The”, and (
- c)by inserting the following subsections after subsection (1B): “(1C) Without prejudice to subsection
- a)Saint Patrick’s Day: between 12.30 p.m. and 10.00 p.m., (
- b)any Sunday: between 12.30 p.m. and 10.00 p.m., and (
- c)any day other than Saint Patrick’s Day or a Sunday: between 10.30 a.m. and 10.00 p.m. (1D) It shall not be lawful for any person to sell any intoxicating liquor, for consumption off the premises concerned, being premises the subject of a general exemption order, on any day during the period— (
- a)beginning on that day on which it is lawful, pursuant to such order, to sell intoxicating liquor for consumption on the premises, and (
- b)ending at 10.30 a.m. on that day.”. Amendment of section 4 of Act of 1927. 5.— Section 4 (as amended by section 10 of the Act of 1960) of the Act of 1927 is amended— (
- a)in subsection
- a)in respect of premises unless a general exemption order was in force in respect of the premises on 30 May 2008, or (
- b)for any time on any Sunday or Saint Patrick’s Day, Christmas Day or Good Friday.”. New wine retailer’s off-licence shall not be granted except pursuant to certificate issued by District Court. 6.— The Revenue Commissioners shall not grant a new wine retailer’s off-licence to a person unless a certificate is presented to them which has been received by the person from the District Court and which entitles the person to a wine retailer’s off-licence. Grounds on which District Court may refuse to give certificate in respect of new relevant off-licences. 7.—
- a)the character, misconduct or unfitness of the person, (
- b)the unfitness or inconvenience of the premises, (
- c)the unsuitability of the premises for the needs of persons residing in the neighbourhood, or (
- d)the adequacy of the existing number of licensed premises of the same character in the neighbourhood.
- a)the Superintendent of the Garda Síochána within whose district the premises are situate, and (
- b)any person who resides in the neighbourhood, may object to the application and, for that purpose, may appear and give evidence.
- a)a spirit retailer’s off-licence, (
- b)a beer retailer’s off-licence, and (
- c)a wine retailer’s off-licence. Provisions supplementary to sections 6 and 7. 8.— For the purposes of sections 6 and 7 — (
- a)the District Court shall have and may exercise, in relation to a wine retailer’s off-licence and with any necessary modifications, all the powers, jurisdictions and authorities which the District Court has and may exercise, in relation to a spirit retailer’s off-licence, pursuant to section 77 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924 except any such powers, jurisdictions and authorities to the extent that they are applicable to the transfer of a spirit retailer’s off-licence, and (
- b)section 10 (inserted by section 9 of the Act of 1986) of the Licensing Act (Ireland) 1874 shall apply, in relation to a new wine retailer’s off-licence and with any necessary modifications, as such section 10 applies to a new spirit retailer’s off-licence. Amendment of section 3 of Act of 1927. 9.— Section 3 (as amended by section 4 of the Act of 2000) of the Act of 1927 is amended by inserting the following subsections after subsection
- a)not later than the first anniversary of the commencement of section 9 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008— (
- i)the exposure for sale and the sale of intoxicating liquor is exclusively confined to a part of the licensed premises— (I) which is structurally separate from the remainder of the premises by means of a wall or similar barrier, (II) to which access from the remainder of the premises by members of the public may only be obtained by means of a door, gate or turnstile or similar means of access, (III) which members of the public do not have to pass through in order to obtain access to the remainder of the premises, and (IV) in which none of the non-licensed business is carried on except the exposure for sale and the sale of any non-alcoholic beverage (including the payment for any article of such beverage) which is also, and at the same times, exposed for sale and sold in the remainder of the premises, and (
- ii)the only place within the premises at which members of the public may pay for intoxicating liquor is at a counter or point of sale situated within the part referred to in subparagraph (i), or (
- b)not later than the first anniversary of the commencement of section 9 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008, the exposure for sale and the sale of intoxicating liquor other than wine is exclusively confined to a part of the premises to which access by members of the public is prevented in such a manner that the sale of such intoxicating liquor to members of the public by means of self-service cannot be effected. (1B) Subsection (1A) shall not apply in relation to— (
- a)any premises the subject of a licence granted under Part IV of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1943 , or (
- b)any premises where the only non-licensed business carried on is the exposure for sale and the sale of— (
- i)non-alcoholic beverages, (
- ii)ice, (iii) confectionery, (
- iv)cigarettes, tobacco, cigars and matches, and (
- v)such other commodities (if any) as may be prescribed in regulations made under subsection (1C) for the purpose of this subparagraph. (1C) Subject to subsection (1D), the Minister may make regulations to prescribe commodities for the purposes of subparagraph (
- v)of paragraph (
- b)of subsection (1B). (1D) The Minister shall not prescribe a commodity under regulations made under subsection (1C) unless the Minister is satisfied that the commodity is ancillary to, and connected with, the exposure for sale and the sale of intoxicating liquor. (1E) Every regulation made under subsection (1C) shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling it is passed by either House within the next subsequent 21 days on which that House has sat after the regulation is laid before it, it shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under it. (1F) A person who contravenes subsection (1A) is guilty of an offence and liable— (
- a)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €5,000, or (
- b)on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding €100,000. (1G) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1F) shall, on each day after having been convicted of such offence on which he or she continues to contravene subsection (1A) in relation to the premises to which that offence relates, be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €2,000. (1H) In this section, ‘ self-service ’, in relation to intoxicating liquor exposed for sale or sold in any premises, means any method of sale which permits a member of the public to supply himself or herself with an article of intoxicating liquor so exposed or sold before payment for the article.”. Amendment of section 5 of Act of 1927. 10.— Section 5 (inserted by section 11 of the Act of 2003) of the Act of 1927 is amended— (
- a)in subsection
- a)shall contain the following conditions: (
- i)that intoxicating liquor shall not be sold at the event, function or dance to which the order relates during the hours specified in the order to persons other than those attending the event; (
- ii)that members of the public, other than persons so attending, shall not be admitted to the part of the premises in which intoxicating liquor is being supplied or consumed pursuant to the order; (iii) that the event, function or dance is held in compliance with the relevant provisions of the definition of ‘special occasion’ in subsection
- iv)that, in the case of a special occasion which does not fall within paragraph (a)(
- ii)of the definition of ‘special occasion’ in subsection
- v)if subparagraph (
- iv)is applicable but the premises concerned do not have a closed circuit television system installed in them, that a closed circuit television system be installed in them for the purposes of that subparagraph; and (
- vi)that any person providing, in respect of the event, function or dance, a security service as a door supervisor, within the meaning of section 2
- b)may contain such other conditions as the Court thinks proper. (4A) Nothing in subparagraphs (
- i)to (
- vi)of paragraph (
- a)of subsection
- b)of that subsection.”, (
- c)in subsection
- a)the premises comply with the fire safety standards under the Building Control Act 1990 applicable to such premises, and (
- b)the special occasion will be conducted in a manner that will not— (
- i)cause undue inconvenience or nuisance to persons residing in the locality, or (
- ii)create an undue threat to public order or public safety in the locality.”. Amendment of section 21 of Act of 1927. 11.— Section 21 of the Act of 1927 is amended— (
- a)in subsection
- a)the bottle or container is opened or unopened, and (
- b)any or all of the contents of the bottle or container have been or are being consumed, and includes the contents of the bottle or container;”. Amendment of section 36A of Act of 1988. 13.— Section 36A (inserted by section 13 of the Act of 2000) of the Act of 1988 is amended, in subsection
- a)a person under the age of 18 years is in a relevant place alone or accompanied by another person, (
- b)a bottle or container which contains intoxicating liquor is in the possession of the relevant person or the accompanying person, and (
- c)such intoxicating liquor (whether in whole or in part) has been, is being, or is intended to be, consumed by the relevant person in such relevant place or another relevant place.
- a)seek an explanation from the relevant person or, as appropriate, the accompanying person, as to all or any of the matters to which the relevant belief relates, and (
- b)do one or more of the following, if such person fails or refuses to give such an explanation or if such an explanation is given, and in either case the member remains of the relevant belief: (
- i)request such person in possession of the bottle or container to immediately give it to the member (or to another member of the Garda Síochána accompanying the member) and at the same time as the request is made give to such person a warning in ordinary language that a failure or refusal to comply with the request may lead to the seizure of the bottle or container or to his or her arrest or to both (or words to the like effect); (
- ii)if such person fails or refuses to comply with the request, seize, detain and remove, without warrant, the bottle or container with the use, if necessary, of such force as is reasonable in the circumstances; (iii) request the relevant person to provide the member with his or her name, address and age.
- a)a person fails or refuses to comply with a request made by the member under subparagraph (
- i)or (iii) of paragraph (
- b)of subsection
- b)the member has reasonable grounds for believing that the name, address or age provided to the member, in compliance with a request made by the member under subparagraph (iii) of paragraph (
- b)of subsection
- a)fails or refuses to comply with a request made by the member under subparagraph (
- i)or (iii) of paragraph (
- b)of subsection
- b)in purported compliance with a request made by the member under subparagraph (iii) of paragraph (
- b)of subsection
- a)dispose of the bottle or container in such manner as he or she considers appropriate, and (
- b)make and retain, or cause to be made and retained, a record in writing of the manner, date and place of such disposal.
- b)the matters specified in paragraphs (a), (
- b)and (
- c)of subsection
- a)the parent or guardian of the person has consented, in writing, to him or her being sent into those premises for that purpose, and (
- b)the member is satisfied that all reasonable steps have been or will be taken to avoid harm to the welfare of the person.
- a)and (
- c)of section 33
- a)purchases intoxicating liquor, or (
- b)represents himself or herself for the purpose of obtaining, or being permitted to consume, intoxicating liquor, to be over the age of 18 years, as the case requires.
- a)prohibiting any active instigation of a contravention of the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2008, such as a false representation, whether made orally or by means of the production of any document, that a person is over the age of 18 years, and (
- b)the basis on which licensed premises will be selected for the purposes of the application of this section, whether by reference to the location of the premises, complaints received by the Garda Síochána concerning the premises, the number and kind of contraventions (if any) of the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2008 relating to the premises, or the clientele attracted to the premises, or any combination thereof.
- a)prohibiting or restricting a person from advertising or promoting the sale or supply of intoxicating liquor at a reduced price or free of charge on the purchase of any quantity of intoxicating liquor or of any other product or service, (
- b)prohibiting or restricting a licensee from selling or supplying intoxicating liquor at a reduced price or free of charge to any person on the purchase by that person, or by any other person, of any quantity of intoxicating liquor or of any other product or service, (
- c)prohibiting or restricting a person from doing or permitting, for the purposes of promoting that person’s business or any event or activity taking place in a place other than a place used as an occupied private residence, anything that is intended or likely to encourage persons in that place to consume intoxicating liquor to an excessive extent.
- a)the need to reduce the risk of a threat to public order arising from the consumption of intoxicating liquor to an excessive extent, (
- b)the health-related risks arising from the consumption of intoxicating liquor to an excessive extent, and (
- c)in the case of advertising referred to in subsection
- a)a class or classes of licensed premises; (
- b)a class or classes of non-licensed premises (other than occupied private residences); (
- c)a class or classes of intoxicating liquor; and (
- d)a class or classes of advertising.
- a)A person who contravenes regulations made under this section is guilty of an offence. (
- b)A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (
- a)is liable— (
- i)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €5,000, or (
- ii)on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding €100,000.
- a)the award, whether directly or indirectly, of bonus points, loyalty card points, or any similar benefit, to any person arising from the purchase by that person, or by any other person, of any intoxicating liquor, (
- b)the use of any such points or benefit, whether directly or indirectly, to obtain intoxicating liquor, or any other product or service, at a reduced price or free of charge, and (
- c)the use, whether directly or indirectly, of bonus points, loyalty card points, or any similar benefit, arising from the purchase of any product or service to obtain intoxicating liquor at a reduced price or free of charge.
- a)the bottle or container is opened or unopened, and (
- b)any or all of the contents of the bottle or container have been or are being consumed, and includes the contents of the bottle or container, but does not include a bottle or container for a substance which is in the possession of the person concerned for a purpose other than the intoxication of that or any other person;”. Insertion of new sections 8A and 8B into Act of 1994. 19.— The Act of 1994 is amended by inserting the following sections after section 8: “Power to direct persons who are in possession of intoxicating substances, etc. 8A.—
- a)a person is in a relevant place alone or accompanied by other persons, (
- b)a bottle or container which contains an intoxicating substance is in the possession of the relevant person, and (
- c)the relevant person is acting in that place, or the relevant person and some or all of the accompanying persons are acting in that place, in a manner that— (
- i)gives rise to a reasonable apprehension for the safety of persons or the safety of property or for the maintenance of the public peace, or (
- ii)is causing, or gives rise to a reasonable apprehension is likely to cause, annoyance and nuisance to another person or persons or interference with that other person’s or persons’ peaceful possession and enjoyment by that other person or persons of his or her, or their, as the case may be, property.
- a)seek an explanation from the relevant person as to all or any of the matters to which the relevant belief relates, and (
- b)do one or more of the following, if the relevant person fails or refuses to give such an explanation or if such an explanation is given, and in either case the member remains of the relevant belief: (
- i)request the relevant person to immediately give the bottle or container to the member (or to another member of the Garda Síochána accompanying the member) and at the same time as the request is made give to the relevant person a warning in ordinary language that a failure or refusal to comply with the request may lead to the seizure of the bottle or container or to his or her arrest or to both (or words to the like effect); (
- ii)if the relevant person fails or refuses to comply with the request, seize, detain and remove, without warrant, the bottle or container with the use, if necessary, of such force as is reasonable in the circumstances; (iii) direct the relevant person and, if appropriate, some or all of the accompanying persons, to desist from acting in the manner referred to in paragraph (
- c)of subsection
- iv)direct the relevant person and, if appropriate, some or all of the accompanying persons, to leave immediately the place in a peaceable or orderly manner; (
- v)request the relevant person to provide the member with his or her name and address.
- a)a person fails or refuses to comply with a request made by the member under subparagraph (
- i)or (
- v)of paragraph (
- b)of subsection
- b)a person fails or refuses to comply with a direction given by the member under subparagraph (iii) or (
- iv)of paragraph (
- b)of subsection
- c)the member has reasonable grounds for believing that the name or address provided to the member, in compliance with a request made by the member under subparagraph (
- v)of paragraph (
- b)of subsection
- a)fails or refuses to comply with a request made by the member under subparagraph (
- i)or (
- v)of paragraph (
- b)of subsection
- b)in purported compliance with a request made by the member under subparagraph (
- v)of paragraph (
- b)of subsection
- a)dispose of the bottle or container in such manner as he or she considers appropriate, and (
- b)make and retain, or cause to be made and retained, a record in writing of the manner, date and place of such disposal.
- a)the bottle or container is opened or unopened, and (
- b)any or all of the contents of the bottle or container have been or are being consumed, and includes the contents of the bottle or container; ‘ relevant belief ’, in relation to a member of the Garda Síochána, means the belief referred to in subsection
- b)the matters specified in paragraphs (a), (
- b)and (
- c)of subsection
- i)in subparagraph (i), by deleting “to a member of the Garda Síochána at a specified Garda Síochána station or to another specified person at a specified place” and substituting “in accordance with the notice”, and (
- ii)in subparagraph (ii), by deleting “so pays” and substituting “pays in accordance with the notice”, (
- b)in subsection
- b)the payment shall be received in accordance with the notice and the person receiving the payment shall issue a receipt for it,”, and (
- c)in subsection
- a)In a prosecution for a fixed charge offence it shall be presumed until the contrary is shown that— (
- i)the relevant notice under this section has been served or caused to be served, and (
- ii)a payment pursuant to the relevant notice under this section accompanied by the notice, duly completed (unless the notice provides for payment without the notice accompanying the payment), has not been made.”. Amendment of section 23B of Act of 1994. 21.— Section 23B (inserted by section 184 of the Act of 2006) of the Act of 1994 is amended, in subsection