NIGHTCLUBS IN Dublin should be permitted to stay open until 4am and clubs outside the capital until 2.30am seven nights a week, the industry’s representative association has said.
It claimed this would generate over 1,600 jobs and up to €95 million a year for the exchequer, and would help the tourism industry.
The calls are made in a report commissioned by the industry and published yesterday, The Economic and Social Impact of the Proposed Regulation of the Nightclub Industry in Ireland.
Barry O’Sullivan, chief executive of the Irish Nightclub Industry Association, said since the enactment of the Intoxicating Liquor Act last July – which pulled back the closing time of nightclubs from 3.30am to 2.30am from Monday to Saturday nights, and to 1am on Sundays – the environment has been “challenging”, with job losses and falling business.
“There have been some fairly high-profile closures recently and I have no doubt there will be more before the end of the year,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
The association, representing over 300 clubs across the State, is seeking a change from the current licensing arrangements where owners must seek a special exemption order from the District Court on a monthly or even fortnightly basis, at a rate of €300 per order, or up to €2,100 a week.
It is calling for an annually granted nightclub permit under which, among “nightclub” criteria, an establishment would be open between 10pm and either 2.30am or 4am, charge an admission fee and be required to set aside at least 20 per cent of floor space for dancing/entertainment.
The association also wants clubs to be able to provide entertainment – usually a DJ – during “drinking up” time.
The report looks at the situation in 10 European countries, and finds club hours are decided by regional authorities, with a typical closing time of 3am to 6am. Mr O’Sullivan said this was “putting Dublin and Ireland at a serious disadvantage in terms of tourism”.
Author of the report, economist Dr Constantin Gurdgiev, said he saw “significant upside potential for growth in the economy” from the reforms being proposed.
He looked at potential social benefits of nightclubs closing later than pubs and late bars.
Up until last July, when clubs were able to stay open until 3.30am, public order offences in the south Dublin city area – the area in the State with the highest concentration of nightclubs – were falling. They fell in that location by 4.8 per cent between 2005 and 2008 compared with an increase in the rest of the State of 25 per cent, Dr Gurdgiev said. “That’s a 30 per cent differential.”
On public transport and fast-food outlet capacity, it made sense if people did not all leave licensed premises at the same time.
Mr O’Sullivan said his industry hoped its call for a specific nightclub licence meeting his members’ criteria would be provided in the forthcoming Sale of Alcohol Bill, to be published in the autumn.
