Sir, – I see that organisations representing publicans have made their annual plea for the 90-year-old ban on serving alcohol on Good Friday to be lifted (Elaine Edwards, "Publicans call for end to 90-year-old Good Friday alcohol ban", February 7th). A constant theme of those who advocate the secular agenda for our society is that we have all moved on, we have a tolerant society, the church no longer has a controlling influence on us, and we must not be shamed in the sight of other nations for being bigoted and backward. These are among the arguments made for the repeal of legislation banning the sale of alcohol on Good Friday.
I suggest that we should be consistent in our thinking here.
The Intoxicating Liquor Act 1927 was introduced at a time when the majority Christian population regarded Good Friday as a day of special religious significance and solemnity.
If popular opinion no longer views Good Friday in this way, I suggest that the Government introduces legislation to require public offices, banks and other businesses, along with schools and shops, to open in the normal way on Good Friday and to simultaneously repeal the Intoxicating Liquor Act for Good Friday. The repeal for Christmas Day can come later.
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Our GNP would benefit from an extra day’s productivity in manufacturing and services and Good Friday would become just another ordinary day for work and drinking.
In the meantime, we few remaining persecuted Christians will quietly go on observing our Good Friday religious observances. The changes would not affect us in any way. – Yours, etc,
JACK MORRISSEY,
Dublin 16.