The country is in for a scorching few days right on time for the Bank Holiday Weekend.
While the country is still in the process It's expected that people will be out in droves this weekend to enjoy an outdoor summer
We are still a few days out from the reopening of pubs and restaurants for outdoor dining but plans are already in place to deal with the crowds of people who will likely take to the cities to enjoy a drink in the good weather.
A Dublin City Councillor has said that there will be 150 toilets installed in the city this weekend as well as 80 barrel bins in anticipation of an increase in footfall on the Bank Holiday Weekend.
It comes after businesses and residents of South William Street criticised the council and the Government for not providing more options as a large amount of groups gathered there last weekend.
However it will be likely that there will be a large garda presence throughout the weekend.
With that it mind it's worth knowing the outdoor drinking rules if you're out this weekend.
There is no strict law that states outdoor drinking is illegal.
However, many city and county councils have bye-laws that forbid drinking in some or all public places.
A number of pubs are currently serving outdoor pints in cities across the country.
The gardai 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.
Gardai can also take alcohol from you in certain circumstances.
The Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994states : "Where a member of the Garda Síochána suspects, with reasonable cause, that an offence under this section or under section 5 or 6 is being committed, the member concerned may seize, obtain or remove, without warrant, any bottle or container, together with its contents
Under section 5 “offensive conduct” means any unreasonable behaviour which, having regard to all the circumstances, is likely to cause serious offence or serious annoyance to any person who is, or might reasonably be expected to be, aware of such behaviour.
