TOPIC:

I wonder would this licensing issue be something that the Beoir membership might care enough about to lobby in some way on? There was talk some years ago about Café licenses that were killed off by the drinks industry, or did I imagine that whole thing? I have a vague notion Mary Harney was involved somewhere or other in the process...

I think we all agree that our licensing laws leave a fair bit to be desired, if we could only find a few sympathetic government TDs... <!-- s:twisted: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_twisted.gif" alt="" title="Twisted Evil" /><!-- s:twisted: -->

&amp;quot;muirgheasa&amp;quot;:1fm3ejv8 wrote: I wonder would this licensing issue be something that the Beoir membership might care enough about to lobby in some way on?[/quote:1fm3ejv8]Yep, I personally think it's fundamental. If I'm asked why aren't there more breweries in Ireland I'll say it's a number of factors, but that the biggest issue is our archaic licensing laws.

&amp;quot;muirgheasa&amp;quot;:1fm3ejv8 wrote: There was talk some years ago about Café licenses that were killed off by the drinks industry, or did I imagine that whole thing? I have a vague notion Mary Harney was involved somewhere or other in the process...[/quote:1fm3ejv8]Michael McDowell introduced it as Minister for Justice. It would appear that A Word Was Had and suddenly it went away. A crying shame, but a perfect example of how much muscle the licensing trade can flex in our political system. This is what we're up against.

[quote:p1pj3ypa]If things like solicitors and accountants are beyond your reach then I respectfully suggest that you won't be able to go into business, not in the licensing trade anyway. It's a minefield, one carefully designed to protect the investment of those who have spent a fortune on a pub licence.

But keep on asking. Maybe that loophole is there somewhere.[/quote:p1pj3ypa]

Yeah, understand what you mean there TheBeerNut. If I can see light at the end of the tunnel then I will of course consult the law folks and probably work up a good decent amount of trendy Irish debt but at the moment just putting the feelers out. I am determined to find that loophole too. Maybe I can buy a lake island somewhere and declare it a free state! If so, you're all welcome to brew, distill or whatever you fancy, but seriously I get what you're saying..


[quote:p1pj3ypa]
I like your idea Ivan and fair play to ya, once you get over the hurdle of selling beer, have a chat with some of the micro's here, they may be willing to do a mini batch on their pilot brewery of 100 ltr or so, that is if any of them have such.
Or come and talk to me in about a years time.
I firmly believe that if you want something bad enough, it will be yours. Don't give up, you will find a way.[/quote:p1pj3ypa]

Cheers Ale Man. Will do. Sounds like you're planning too. I hope in the next year or 2 we can do some business!

[quote:p1pj3ypa]I think we all agree that our licensing laws leave a fair bit to be desired, if we could only find a few sympathetic government TDs... Twisted Evil[/quote:p1pj3ypa]

Agreed. we need more TDs who actually remember we are a small democratic republic and not Johnson & Johnson pharmaceuticals!

[quote:p1pj3ypa]
Michael McDowell introduced it as Minister for Justice. It would appear that A Word Was Had and suddenly it went away. A crying shame, but a perfect example of how much muscle the licensing trade can flex in our political system. This is what we're up against.[/quote:p1pj3ypa]

I read about this a while back, indeed it is a shame. Maybe given the current climate and with all the "well you do something about the economy then" type schtick it would be a good time to alley-oop this idea.

I'd join Beoir to support this

If it included a cottage industry type provision , to allow small scale production of beer for sale,

I reckon small bars could then sell Homebrewed beers in small quantities and some might take the route of brewing small batches onsite . This would build a lot more industry as you'd have more opportunity for retail and manufacturing of small scale brewing plant and ingredients sales.

&amp;quot;Wallacebiy&amp;quot;:31qsegjw wrote: I'd join Beoir to support this

If it included a cottage industry type provision , to allow small scale production of beer for sale[/quote:31qsegjw]

Obviously Beoir does support this without explicitly stating it.

&amp;quot;Wallacebiy&amp;quot;:31qsegjw wrote: I reckon small bars could then sell Homebrewed beers in small quantities and some might take the route of brewing small batches onsite . This would build a lot more industry as you'd have more opportunity for retail and manufacturing of small scale brewing plant and ingredients sales.[/quote:31qsegjw]

I don't think the homebrew in a pub is a runner at all. "Sorry we're out of beer because our supplier had to work late and then put the kids to bed and didn't get time to put a mash on." You can't run a business with that supply chain.

What I do think is viable is to have a friendly legislative environment for brewpubs.

The homebrew doesn't have to be the only brew available though. Not to mention that last I checked most brewing takes a number of weeks, so giving yourself a little flexibility in terms of timing seems reasonable (as in, the "just in time" method of doing business wouldn't apply).