Supermarkets and off-licenses across Ireland are set to be extremely busy over the next few days as people stock up on drinks to celebrate St Patrick's Day.
Many will be looking forward to a four-day weekend, including a one-off double bank holiday this year on March 17 and 18.
The public holiday means that shops across the country will have altered opening hours which will affect when alcohol can be purchased.
Read more: The change in alcohol laws in Ireland that apply on St Patrick’s Day
This includes off-licences which will not operate normal hours on Thursday and will instead adopt Sunday times.
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."
Pubs and restaurants will continue to operate normal alcohol sale hours on St Patrick's Day from 10.30am until 11.30pm, excluding late night bars and nightclubs.
Meanwhile, Irish shoppers are also advised to be aware of altered opening hours for many stores over the double bank holiday.
The majority of supermarkets are operating a Sunday opening hours schedule across Thursday and Friday.
Aldi and Lidl stores open on weekends and bank holidays from 9am until 9pm.
Dunnes Stores, Tesco and SuperValu will likely adopt Sunday hours, with customers advised to check the specific opening times for their local store.
It comes as the Road Safety Authority is encouraging drivers to mark St Patrick's Day responsibly and has highlighted some key guidelines to remember the morning after alcohol consumption.
These include:
- The only cure is time – after alcohol consumption, the only way to expel alcohol from your body is to wait.
- It takes roughly one hour for a unit of alcohol to leave the body – one unit of alcohol is a standard measure of spirit, wine, or a half glass of beer.
- Fatigue magnifies the impairment effect of alcohol – If you went to bed very late after consuming alcohol, you may not be fit to drive until lunchtime the next day.
Drivers are being reminded, if planning to head out socialising, to plan how they are going to get home safely.
The same also applies if we are planning to walk, particularly in rural areas where there may be no footpaths or street lighting.
Read more: Ireland's rules on outdoor drinking ahead of St Patrick's Day festivities and how to avoid big fines
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