Good Friday alcohol ban may be archaic, but that doesn't mean it's all bad

Publicans say closing pubs on Good Friday costs them €30m to €40m a year. Stock image. Photo posed

Shane Coleman

April 12 2017 2:30 AM

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• Good Friday alcohol ban may be archaic, but that doesn't mean it's all bad

  Independent.ie

  It looks as if this year will be the last Good Friday where there is a ban on the sale of alcohol. Another relic of old Ireland is about to bite the dust as we barely pause for breath in our race to be 'modern', 'worldly' and 'with it'.

  http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/shane-coleman/good-friday-alcohol-ban-may-be-archaic-but-that-doesnt-mean-its-all-bad-35615978.html

  http://www.independent.ie/incoming/article35615766.ece/9abe6/AUTOCROP/h342/p27pubs.jpg
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It looks as if this year will be the last Good Friday where there is a ban on the sale of alcohol. Another relic of old Ireland is about to bite the dust as we barely pause for breath in our race to be 'modern', 'worldly' and 'with it'.

There's no doubt the ban is "archaic" - the word that vintners and other critics routinely attach to it.

It dates back 90 years, after all. But just because something is archaic is not sufficient reason for getting rid of it.

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