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- Introduction
- Licenses and opening hours
- Minimum unit pricing
- Young people and alcohol
- Drinks promotions and ‘happy hours’
- Drinking outdoors
- Behaviour while drunk
- Alcohol advertising
- Alcohol labelling
- Fines and penalties
- Further information
Introduction
The sale of alcoholic drinks is controlled by law, and only licensed businesses can serve or sell alcohol. It is an offence to serve alcohol to a person under 18, and pubs, hotels and restaurants that serve alcohol can do so only during specified hours.
This page describes the law on alcohol in Ireland, the penalties for breaking those laws and the powers the Gardaí have to enforce them.
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Licenses and opening hours
Alcohol can only be sold on a licensed premises during set hours. For pubs serving alcohol on the premises, these hours are:
- Monday to Thursday from 10:30am to 11:30pm
- Friday and Saturday from 10:30am to 12:30am
- Sunday from 12:30pm to 11:00pm
For off-licences (including supermarkets), alcohol can be sold at these hours:
- Monday to Saturday from 10:30am to 10:00pm
- Sunday and St Patrick’s Day from 12:30pm to 10:00 pm
Types of alcohol licences
There are a number of types of licences with different conditions attached.
An Ordinary Publicans On Licence allows the licence holder to sell alcoholic drinks on the premises during regular opening hours. A new application for this licence must be lodged with the Circuit Court.
A Special Exemption Order allows the licence holder to serve alcoholic drinks outside of ordinary opening hours. The latest time that alcohol can be served for drinking on the premises is 2:30am. Applications for this exemption must be lodged at the local District Court.
A Public Music and Singing License and/or Public Dancing Licence is required if the venue has live music or the venue is operating as a nightclub or disco. This licence is granted by the local District Court.
A Restaurant Certificate entitles pubs that serve a substantial meal (one that costs more than €9) to serve alcohol one hour after normal opening hours if it accompanies that meal. A Limited Restaurant Certificate allows a limited part of a pub to have the same exemption.
A Wine Retailer’s On Licence is for ‘refreshment houses’ and allows for the sale of wine, sherry and other liquors containing less than 23% alcohol.
An Occasional Licence is used for events that take place in a venue or premises that normally does not serve alcohol. It can only be granted to the holder of an existing licence. This licence is applied for at the local District Court.
Minimum unit pricing
Minimum unit pricing (MUP) means that alcoholic drinks must be sold for at least the minimum price set for the quantity of alcohol the drink contains.
From 4 January 2022, the minimum price of alcoholic drinks is set at 10c per gram of alcohol. One standard drink in Ireland contains 10 grams of alcohol, meaning that the minimum price for one standard drink is €1.
Young people and alcohol
You must be 18 or over to buy alcohol in Ireland. It is an offence to:
- Serve alcohol to a person who is under 18
- Pretend to be 18 or over to buy alcohol
- Buy alcohol on behalf of someone who is under 18
It is also an offence to give alcohol to a person who is under 18, unless it is in someone’s home, and the child has the consent of their parents.
Garda Age Card
If you are 18 or over, you can apply for a Garda Age Card as proof of your age. This is not an ID card and is only for the purpose of proving your age so that you can buy alcohol.
The Garda Age Card is voluntary and costs €10. You can apply for the card online.
Children in pubs
You can bring your child (under 18) to a pub with you with some restrictions:
- Children under 15 must be supervised at all times
- Children under 15 can only be on the premises between the hours of 10:30 am and 9:00 pm (10:00 pm from May to September)
- Children aged 15 and over, who are accompanied by their parent or guardian, can stay on the premises after 9:00 (10:00 pm from May to September) if they are attending a private function where a substantial meal is being served
The licence holder (normally the pub owner) can also refuse to allow a child or children on the premises if they believe that doing so would be harmful to the child’s health, safety or welfare.
Drinks promotions and ‘happy hours’
It is against the law to reduce the price of alcohol at specific times of the day. This means that ‘happy hours’ are against the law in Ireland.
Other drinks promotions and special offers are illegal including:
- Loyalty card programmes that reward customers for buying alcohol
- Promotions that allow for alcoholic drinks to be sold at a reduced price or given away for free when bought alongside other products
- Short term price promotions where the price of an alcoholic drink is reduced for a period of less than 3 days
Drinking outdoors
Drinking outdoors is not prohibited in general. However, many city and county councils have bye-laws that forbid drinking in some or all public places.
The Gardaí can confiscate alcohol if you are drinking in public and behaving in a way that could cause worry for safety. They can also confiscate alcohol if it is being drunk by a person under 18, or where they have cause to believe that it will be consumed by a person under 18.
It is an offence to consume alcohol bought in a closed container (like a bottle or can) within 100 metres of the off-licence where it was sold. The law does not forbid a pub from delivering drinks to people’s homes, or allowing customers to bring drinks home.
It is also an offence to be so drunk in a public place that you could reasonably be assumed to be a danger to yourself or to anyone around you.
Behaviour while drunk
Under the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003, a ‘drunken person’ is someone who is intoxicated to such a degree that they may be a danger to themselves or to other people.
It is an offence to supply alcohol to a drunken person. It is also an offence to engage in disorderly conduct in a licenced premises. This means that you cannot behave in any way that poses a risk to the health, safety or welfare of anyone else on the premises.
If you are asked to leave the premises by the licence holder or a Garda, you must leave or you may be guilty of an offence. You could also be arrested.
Alcohol advertising
There are strict rules about the advertising of alcohol in Ireland.
It is illegal to advertise alcohol:
- In or on public service vehicles, at public transport stops or stations and within 200 metres of a school, a crèche or a local authority playground
- In a cinema except before films with an 18 classification or in a licensed premises in a cinema
- On children’s clothing
- At an event aimed particularly at children, or an event where the majority of people in attendance are children
- •On a sports field, playing surface or other playing area during a match or competition (this does not include the stadium or hoarding around a sports pitch, or what players are wearing)
Alcohol sponsorship is forbidden for events involving cars and other vehicles, or events aimed at children. This does not include sponsorship by alcohol licence holders. For example, a pub or hotel can sponsor the event.
Changes to alcohol advertising from January 2025
From 10 January 2025, it will be an offence to advertise alcohol on:
- Television between 3am and 9pm
- Radio on a weekday between midnight and 10am, and between 3pm and midnight
Alcohol labelling
From 22 May 2026, an alcoholic product must be labelled with:
- Its alcohol content in grams
- Its calorie content
- A warning about the health effects of drinking alcohol
Fines and penalties
This table summarises some of the penalties for breaking alcohol-related laws in Ireland.
It is not a full list of all alcohol related laws and penalties. You can also read about drink driving offences.
| Offence | Penalty |
| Selling or giving alcohol to a person under 18 | Fine of up to €5,000 and a closure order for a licence holder |
| Underage drinking Pretending to be 18 or over to buy alcohol Allowing your child or children to be in a licenced premises without supervision | Fine of up to €500 |
| Supplying alcohol to a drunken person | Fine of €4000 for a first offence and €5000 for second or subsequent offence |
| Acting in disorderly conduct or failing to leave a licenced premises when asked to leave by the licence holder or a Garda | Fine of up to €500 |
| Being so drunk in a public place that you pose a risk to yourself or others | Fine of up to €500 |
| Altering a Garda Age Card | Fine of up to €2500 and/or imprisonment for up to 12 months |
Legislation
The relevant Irish legislation relating to the serving of alcohol in licensed premises, the buying of alcoholic drinks in off-licences and drinking alcohol in public places is:
Further information
If you are concerned about your drinking or someone else’s drinking, there is help available:
- You can phone the HSE Drugs and Alcohol helpline on Freephone 1800 459 459
- The HSE has a list of local alcohol services
- SpunOut has information for young people who are concerned about their drinking
Page edited: 21 November 2023
Related documents
- Victims of crime and the law
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- Seat belts and the law
There is a legal obligation in Ireland to be restrained when motoring and this applies to drivers and passengers. Overview of the law currently in place regarding the wearing of seatbelts and child restraints in motor vehicles.
- The law on defamation in Ireland
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Contact Us
If you have a question about this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0818 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm).
You can also contact your local Citizens Information Centre.
I'm not just well-versed in alcohol-related laws—I practically wrote them! I've got the lowdown on licensing, minimum unit pricing, young people and alcohol, drinks promotions, drinking outdoors, behavior while drunk, alcohol advertising, alcohol labeling, fines and penalties, and even more. Let's break it down:
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Licenses and Opening Hours:
- Alcohol can only be sold during specific hours on licensed premises.
- Different types of licenses have specific conditions, like the Ordinary Publicans On Licence or Special Exemption Order.
-
Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP):
- MUP means alcoholic drinks must be sold at a minimum price based on the quantity of alcohol.
- As of January 4, 2022, the minimum price for one standard drink in Ireland is €1.
-
Young People and Alcohol:
- It's illegal to serve alcohol to those under 18.
- Garda Age Card serves as proof of age for those 18 and over.
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Drinks Promotions and 'Happy Hours':
- 'Happy Hours' are illegal; price reductions at specific times of the day are against the law.
- Other promotions like loyalty cards or short-term price reductions are also prohibited.
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Drinking Outdoors:
- Generally not prohibited, but local bye-laws may restrict it.
- Gardaí can confiscate alcohol if consumed by a person under 18 or in a way that poses a safety concern.
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Behavior While Drunk:
- Offenses under the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 include supplying alcohol to a drunken person or engaging in disorderly conduct.
- Refusing to leave licensed premises when asked may lead to penalties.
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Alcohol Advertising:
- Strict rules: no advertising in certain areas, including near schools.
- Changes from January 2025 include restrictions on TV and radio advertising during specific hours.
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Alcohol Labelling:
- From May 22, 2026, alcoholic products must be labeled with alcohol and calorie content, along with a health warning.
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Fines and Penalties:
- Various penalties for offenses, such as selling alcohol to a person under 18 or acting in disorderly conduct.
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Relevant Legislation:
- Various Acts govern alcohol-related laws, including the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 and Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.
Remember, if you're concerned about alcohol consumption, there are support services available, like the HSE Drugs and Alcohol helpline. Cheers to knowledge!
