A late bar and nightclub owner in the city has reservations about the proposed extension of the sectors opening hours.
The bill would extend the opening hours of late bars to 2.30am and nightclubs to 6am.
The HSE’s Chief Medical Officer and the Road Safety Authority have expressed concern that serving alcohol for longer periods could lead to an increase in road deaths and medical emergencies.
Paul Montgomery who owns Clancy’s and JJ Walsh’s in the city says he would be open to keeping his bars open later but would have to overcome staffing issues:
"To pay staff to work till 6 in the morning would be different to paying staff until 1 or 2 in the morning. In a city like Cork, there's probably a market for 300/400 people on a Saturday night. We'll certainly embrace if it comes in, but I'd be less certain that there's long term viability for late opening giving that there's a trend for people going out to eat and drink earlier."
