TOPIC:

"Biertourist":1t33ad65 wrote: Shane, what's the name of the 100 million euro+ business that you own? If you don't own one, then why are you such an ardent supporter of an unregulated free market? [/quote:1t33ad65]
I'd own several if it wasn't for the over-regulation and red tape. <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->

In seriousness tho, I think you're talking about the evolution of a country/society beyond a particular point. i.e. the point where the free market economy actually needs some correction, or for want of a better word, regulation. The USA, which is quite a bit older than the RoI, is quite often quoted as an example of this, and while I generally don't agree, there are some situations where I do agree.

In a lot of cases Ireland hasn't got that far. We're still shackled by Victorian laws that we inherited from our past masters. And we have come up with plenty of our own. Someone said (not me) that when we got rid of the Brits we replaced them with Gombeen Men.

Getting back on topic, even though they originated from the same baseline, drink/alcohol laws have evolved in the UK and if anything they've gotten worse in this country. Why can't you buy beer from an offy after 10pm but you can from a pub? And why does Scotland have 300 whiskey distilleries, and we have 4? One answer: over-regulation and red tape.

&amp;quot;Tube&amp;quot;:2qy2ilj1 wrote: Why can't you buy beer from an offy after 10pm but you can from a pub?[/quote:2qy2ilj1]You can't, legally. A pub may not sell beer for consumption off the premises after 10pm.

&amp;quot;TheBeerNut&amp;quot;:13zu7135 wrote:

&amp;quot;Tube&amp;quot;:13zu7135 wrote: Why can't you buy beer from an offy after 10pm but you can from a pub?[/quote:13zu7135]You can't, legally. A pub may not sell beer for consumption off the premises after 10pm.[/quote:13zu7135]
Pedant! After 10pm, a pub can sell you alcohol, an offy can't.

&amp;quot;Tube&amp;quot;:2sylavfx wrote: Why can't you buy beer from an offy after 10pm but you can from a pub?[/quote:2sylavfx]
Because back in 2008

&amp;quot;Advisory Group on Alcohol&amp;quot;:2sylavfx wrote: The Group considers that the period during which alcohol may be sold in such outlets is excessive and has concluded that an earlier limit of 10.00 p.m. for all off-sales could contribute to addressing availability concerns and contribute to reducing alcohol misuse.[/quote:2sylavfx]
Link[/url:2sylavfx] (from chapter 3).

I'd love to know how they're getting on with that "could". I think Beoir should take a position on any proposed future restrictions on alcohol sales that we see some data on the effect of the previous ones.

&amp;quot;TheBeerNut&amp;quot;:lwktkqgn wrote: Sorry! Totally misread you <!-- s:oops: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_redface.gif" alt="" title="Embarassed" /><!-- s:oops: --> [/quote:lwktkqgn]
No probs.

&amp;quot;TheBeerNut&amp;quot;:lwktkqgn wrote: I'd love to know how they're getting on with that "could". I think Beoir should take a position on any proposed future restrictions on alcohol sales that we see some data on the effect of the previous ones.[/quote:lwktkqgn]
I couldn't agree more. And in the case where there is no data to back up the previous regulations then they should be removed.

I had a dream that those who are in positions of power and influence in this country, for the benefit of society, would try to shift the focus from restricting availability to improving the quality of alcoholic beverages. It's not selling beer after 10pm that's causing problems, it's selling slabs of piss at all times of the day that's causing problems.