Northern Ireland’s breweries should be allowed to sell their own beer, a leading campaign group says.
Real ale promoters CAMRA are calling for “more extensive reform” of Northern Ireland licencing laws as civil servants attempt to change drink rules to help the Open golf tournament.
The Department for Communities launched a consultation last month on allowing ‘special event’ status for occasions like the Open which would give them “the power to vary permitted hours for the sale of alcoholic drinks at the event”.
If there is a rules change it would allow the Open to sell drink for a longer period using an ‘occasional’ licence.
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The events “would also have the power to permit the sale of alcoholic drinks for consumption off the premises at special events”, the DfC says. It is understood this would allow for off-licence style sales of Open branded Scotch at the Portrush event.
A further element of the consultation “includes food and drink shows where exhibitors wish to sell their products to visitors”. That may have stopped the scenario that saw exhibitors at the BBC Good Food Show in the Waterfront Hall unable to sell their wares.
But craft ale brewers say the plans are “too narrow” and should be changed to allow for brewers to sell their pale ales etc on site as is allowed in Britain.
The Campaign for Real Ale “wants to see local breweries and cider makers be able to serve their produce in tap rooms on their premises, at brewery tours and at local events and markets to help promote their products”.
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They added: “This would give locals and tourists alike more opportunities to enjoy beer and cider produced in Northern Ireland and help those businesses grow.”
CAMRA Director for Northern Ireland Sarah Crawford added: “Northern Ireland’s licensing laws mean that businesses, pub goers and tourists are at more of a disadvantage than anywhere else across these islands.
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“Extending licensing hours and allowing breweries to sell local beers at special events is welcome - but this should be allowed all year round, not just at the Open.”
The DfC says the number of ‘special events’ is “expected to be very small”.
William Mayne at Newtownards’ Bullhouse Brewing described licencing laws here as “archaic”.
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He added: “Breweries here can bring people on a tour of the premises then at the end of it they can’t sell them the beer. It’s just a crazy situation. We have spoken to the Department to say their consultation is too narrow. We could sell our beer in England and the law has been changed in the Republic, but here we can’t.
“You can get an occasional licence, but that has to come from another pub. That happens, but obviously it’s only occasional so there needs to be a change in the law.”
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