VFI seeking extended weekend hours in new Bill

An extension of the licensing hours at weekends would be one of a number of items that the VFI would like to see covered in the Sale of Alcohol Bill, due to be published before the end of the year.

“The trade has become so condensed that we’d be looking for an increase in the hours for Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” VFI Chief Executive Padraig Cribben told Drinks Industry Ireland.

The bigger picture indicates the Federation currently grappling with the whole question of the survival of its members in the licensed trade.

“There are going to be more casualties,” predicted Padraig Cribben, “And we must help members survive as best they can.”
He described the on-trade business around the country to date this year as having been “patchy”, stating, “We got a few more tourists this year but June and July was particularly poor in terms of business which was patchy”.