Sir, - At long last we are to have an updating of the pub licensing law to bring it into line with the real world. Could I suggest that the Minister go a lot further than what is proposed?
If it is OK for one type of shop or venue to sell alcohol, then why should this not be extended to others, once certain criteria are met? For example, what about the local chipper, pizza parlour or Chinese take-away? One could order a few beers there without then having to travel to an off-licence or pub.
Likewise with outdoor venues. St Enda's Park in Rathfarnham, of Padraig Pearse fame and well maintained by South Dublin County Council, has a nice little tea room. At the tail-end of the summer the park played host to a Sunday afternoon big band concert. An extra treat would have been the opportunity to have a beer and listen to a fine outfit giving the music of the 1930s and 1940s a grand run for its money. But no, all we could have was tea or coffee. All imported!
I know there are many similar situations throughout the country where having a beer could add to the pleasure of the visit. Isn't it sad to see suburban pubs full of kids on a fine summer's day when they could enjoy the outdoors if their parents could have a beer at outdoor functions? I am not suggesting full bar facilities. A large cooler full of various beers would suffice for the afternoon.
One has only to visit Germany, particularly Bavaria, to see how they handle the selling of drink in a civilised fashion. They seem to work on the principle that wherever people gather outdoors, someone will avail of the opportunity to sell them a beer along with minerals, ice cream and food. This includes castles, monasteries, mountain tops, museums and numerous places of historical interest.
There is a strong publicans' lobby here which will fight hard to hold on to its monopoly. They will put forward all sorts of reasons why the Minister should not relax the law, not out of concern for us, but to guard against any diminution in their profits. We, who enjoy an occasional beer and are numerically stronger and pay the piper, should get a hearing too. But will the Minister take them on? - Yours, etc.,
Brendan M. Redmond, Hazelbrook Road, Terenure, Dublin 6W.