Supermarkets and off-licenses across Ireland are set to be extremely busy before Christmas Day as people stock up on festive tipples.
With pubs and restaurants closing at 8pm, the majority will be choosing to enjoy a drink at home rather than venture out for a pint.
Christmas means that shops across the country will have altered opening hours which will affect when alcohol can be purchased.
According to Citizens Information: "Alcohol can only be sold on a licensed premises during set hours.
"For off-licences (including supermarkets), alcohol can be sold at these hours:
"Monday to Saturday from 10:30am to 10pm
"Sunday and St Patrick’s Day from 12:30pm to 10:00 pm."
For other bank holidays, alcohol can be purchased from 10.30am until 10pm.
As Christmas Day falls on a Saturday, December 26, 27 and 28 are all bank holidays.
This means that off-licenses in supermarkets must adhere to these rules over Christmas.
Ahead of the big day, thankfully many stores have extended their opening hours so shoppers can pick up some final festive supplies.
Here are the Christmas 2021 supermarket opening hours:
Tesco
Tesco Ireland stores will open at 7am during Christmas week, with opening hours extended until 1am in selected larger stores.
From Monday 20 until Thursday 23, shops will open from 7am to 1am.
On Christmas Eve, they will open from 6am until 7pm.
Tesco stores around the country will close for Christmas Day but reopen on the 26 from 10am until 8pm.
Aldi
In the run-up to Christmas Eve, Aldi have extended opening hours from 8am – 11pm.
From Monday the 20 until Thursday 23, stores will open from 8am until 11pm.
You can pop to the shop anytime between 8am and 7pm on Christmas Eve.
However, Aldi will remain closed on Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day.
It will then reopen on the 27th from 9am until 9pm.
Lidl
Lidl stores across Ireland will open from 8am until 10pm from Monday the 20th until December 23.
Lidl will be open from 8am until 6pm on Christmas Eve.
It will then close until the 27th, when it will operate opening hours of 9am to 9pm until December 28.
Dunnes Stores
Dunnes Stores will be open at 7am during Christmas week, with opening hours extended until 2am in some stores.
From Monday the 20th until Thursday, December 23, stores will open from 7am until 2am.
On Christmas Eve, Dunnes will be open from 7am until 6pm.
SuperValu
Selected SuperValu stores will open at 7am during the run-up to Christmas, with opening hours extended until midnight.
The 7am until midnight opening hours will remain in place until the 23rd.
On Christmas Eve, stores will open from 7am until 8pm and reopen on Stephen’s Day at 10am and close at 6pm.
Customers are advised to check the opening times of their local stores as different opening hours may apply.
