Alcohol Action Ireland press release, Thursday February 20, 2025
In another week when the safety of Ireland’s towns and cities at night was once again being called into question, Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) welcomes the news that the Intoxicating Liquor Bill, which would allow for nightclubs to open until 6am and pubs to open daily until 12.30am, is no longer listed as a priority piece of legislation for the government though it remains on the legislative programme.
The international evidence is overwhelming that even a one-hour extension of alcohol trading is associated with a 17% increase in alcohol-related crime and a 34% increase in alcohol-related injuries requiring hospital treatment. The relationship between alcohol and crime is clear, with alcohol playing a key role in crimes such as public order offences, domestic violence, assault and murder, as well as rape and sexual assault.
The sensible decision to not rush through this regressive piece of legislation before the summer is not only good news for the safety of the general public, but also for the safety of the people who would be expected to work these extra hours.
In its newly published document, ‘Sorry we’re open: The impact of extended opening hours on workload and worker safety’, AAI outlines the impact the proposals contained in the Intoxicating Liquor Bill/Sale of Alcohol Bill would have on the health service, on frontline workers, and on the staff who would have to service an expanded night-time economy (NTE).
AAI CEO Dr Sheila Gilheany said: “The importance of worker protection and public health cannot be overstated, because regardless of the fashionable and romantic notions of politicians, industry, and urban theorists, it is alcohol, mass intoxication, and profit rather than ‘cultural regeneration’ which lies at the heart of the expansion of the night-time economy. This immediately puts workers and the health service at risk because alcohol is a driver of violence and crime, and extending licensing hours not only puts workers at risk, as they are required to service this sector of the economy, but it also causes increased alcohol consumption which we know results in more violence, a fact that was acknowledged by the Taoiseach Micheál Martin only this week in the Dáil.”
Some of the shocking stats contained in the document are:
- Research from Australia revealed 89% of hospitality workers surveyed had experienced one or more incidents of sexual harassment in their working life.
- HSE data indicates an average of 16 health and social care workers are assaulted every day in hospitals and healthcare facilities in Ireland.
- Research from Britain revealed that 96% of ambulance crews and paramedics they surveyed had been threatened or verbally abused by someone who appeared to be intoxicated whilst on duty, and half of respondents reported sustaining an actual injury at least once through dealing with intoxicated members of the public, while 52% reported to have been the victim of intoxicated sexual harassment or assault.
- A survey of police officers operating in the north-east of England found that 97% felt at risk of physical assault when policing the night-time economy, 1 in 5 had been subject to six or more alcohol related assaults during their career, and 80% felt working the NTE affected their work/life balance.
- The National Transport Authority ‘Public Transport Passenger Personal Security Report’ for 2024 found that 31% of customers felt unsafe on public transport at night, with many passengers fearing for their personal safety when they encounter drunken or drugged passengers.
Dr Gilheany continued: “The proposed legislation would have a hugely negative impact on many different types of workers. Transport workers can find themselves operating in a volatile environment and increased numbers of people consuming more alcohol later into the night would undoubtedly increase the risk of aggression, violence, and discrimination directed at them.
“Not only do attacks from intoxicated people make the work of paramedics, fire fighters and ambulance crews more difficult and dangerous, but they can also take these frontline workers off the streets, as they may need to receive medical treatment, slowing down the service and reducing its ability to respond to other incidents.
“Pub and nightclub workers play a key role in health and safety in nightlife environments, yet this work comes with significant risk factors, such as exposure to patron aggression at work, stress, alcohol use, risk of sexual harassment and assault, and extending licensing hours will only exacerbate environmental risk factors for them.
“Meanwhile, An Garda Síochána are unequivocal that more public order and associated issues would be the inevitable consequence of the proposed licensing changes. They have stated that there are insufficient resources to deal with the existing situation of 2.30am closing times as it is, and that an extension will exacerbate the demands on an already overwhelmed force.
“With all this in mind, not only should the Sale of Alcohol Bill and Intoxicating Liquor Bill undergo a Health Impact Assessment, but they should also be assessed in terms of their social and economic sustainability due to the pressures their measures will place on workers and public services.
“In a wider context Ireland needs a renewed focus on reducing alcohol harms through the development of a new alcohol strategy – an issue which should be led by the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. Reducing Ireland’s alcohol consumption would benefit those working in the night-time economy and significantly improve the public’s enjoyment of our towns and cities.”
ENDS
Notes
- Full report here
- Government Legislation Programme Spring 2025 here https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/319531/3760a815-ee4f-49ea-ba3b-e42244711ea4.pdf#page=null
