Following Dr Tony Holohan's criticism of those people who were meeting in Dublin on Saturday evening, the issue of alcohol consumption in public has come to the fore again.
Four arrests were made as gardaí from the Public Order Unit and Dog Unit were involved in attempts to disperse large crowds drinking in and around Dublin’s South Inner City.
Reports claimed that up to 1,000 people converged on the area on what was one of the hottest days of the year.
Elsewhere, Galway City Council also closed off an area by the River Corrib, while a clean-up was underway in parts of Cork this morning after large crowds gathered at a number of locations in the city centre.
This has led to questions about whether it is legal to go drinking outdoors.
Here is what the official rules are around that.
Can I drink outdoors?
Yes and no.
Drinking outdoors is not against the law in general.
However, many city and county councils have bye-laws that forbid drinking in some or all public places.
Can gardaí take my alcohol away?
Yes.
The Gardaí can confiscate alcohol if you are drinking in public and behaving in a way that could cause worry for safety.
That could land you a fine of up to €500.
And what about takeaway pints?
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 via takeaway pints.
Any other rules?
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.
The following information is also provided by Citizens Information : "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."
