An Irish pub has said it will keep selling takeaway pints regardless of potential new rules enforced by the Government.
It emerged last night that politicians were considering a ban on pubs selling takeaway drinks and further curbs on more than two people gathering in public to drink their pints.
The proposal came after scenes last weekend in Dublin and Cork saw dozens of drinkers gathering in public spaces.
However this morning Ministers rowed back on the “over the top” proposed ban.
Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, brought the official memo after consulting with the Attorney General, the Government’s legal adviser, Paul Gallagher.
But it was rejected by the wider Cabinet after resistance from minister members of all three parties, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens - although it was “far from unanimous” according to one source.
It was going to be legally difficult for the Government to introduce a rule to ban the sale of takeaway drinks from pubs anyway, while, for instance, allowing a restaurant sell takeaway alcohol.
Ultimately the Cabinet has decided to drop the proposal and stick to enforcing the laws as they stand.
However last night one pub, O'Sullivan's Bar on Church Street in Douglas, moved to insist that they would be selling the pints regardless.
They explained that all their customers bring home their drinks with their food, and that there is "no issue with social distancing".
The bar wrote on Facebook yesterday: "We are still going to do take away pints and cocktails this weekend!!!
"Everyone takes them home with there food nobody hanging around, no issue with social distancing but keeps us in jobs ... they should have cleared the crowds in town 4 weeks ago when it was small and nipped it in the bud!!!"
Earlier this morning, Labour leader, Alan Kelly, slammed the proposed ban as “daft” and “over the top.”
He said: “It is daft that this issue is being given such a response given a tweet in the last 24 hours.
“Put simply, I believe they should implement the law as is.
“If they implemented and enforced the law as is, I don’t think we’d be dealing with this issue today which has gone way over the top as regards the way in which restaurants or pubs are allowed to offer takeaway.”
