Should our pubs open on Good Friday?

THE annual stampede to stock up on alcohol will move up a notch this week in advance of Good Friday when the shutters will come down on every pub and nightclub in the country. But is it about time that this archaic ban was lifted if we are to call ourselves a modern society?

There can be no more a ludicrous sight than to see people stockpiling booze in supermarkets and off-licences on Holy Thursday. Even more farcical is the notion of nightclubs waiting to open at the stroke of midnight on Good Friday into Easter Saturday. This week we asked our Facebook followers: should pubs be allowed to open on Good Friday?

David Gaynor: It’s complete bulls***. It’s closed because of the Catholic Church. What if I don’t follow their teachings? I still can’t go out for a pint? It’s bull.

Pamela Doyle: There are only two days in 365 that a pub closes. Get over it. Who cares why. Enjoy your time at home with your family!

Martina Mullen: Well said, Pamela. What’s one day? In my opinion people use it as an excuse to get more drunk than usual with home drinking and gatherings of people and excess alcohol consumption.

Fiona Murrihy: They should stay closed, simple as that.

Joe Lukes: No, not at all. In fact, the pubs should close on St Patrick’s Day and only family owned pubs [should be open] on St Stephen’s Day.

Frances Mansfield: It’s well for all these people that can afford to go out to a pub 365 (or 364) days a year).

Ann McMahon: Oh stop giving out, people. Relax, chill. Don’t go to the pub if you don’t like it but there are other people in the world that do like going to the pub once in a while.

Ronan Merrick: Yes it’s a religious holiday. If people choose not to go, they are free not to.

Sinead Lisa McKay: I think it should be up to each pub. There is a demand for it so why not? It’s hard enough for places to stay open these days.

Sharon Byrne: No, we drink enough every other day. It’s not going to kill us to miss one day.

Shelley Marie: Keep them closed. They only close twice a year.

Hazel Duffy: I don’t think one day for them to be closed will do any harm as the only days they close are Good Friday and Christmas Day.

Sinead Catherine: I think they should because lots of people in Ireland nowadays aren’t Christians and don’t celebrate Easter. Why should they suffer?

Estelle Williams: No. In South Africa pubs close on Good Friday and Christmas Day. That’s fair enough considering they’re open every other day of the year. Call it respect.

Michael Fitzgerald: They make enough for the other 363 days. It won’t bankrupt them.

Melissa Creighton: People are going to get their alcohol in for Good Friday anyway so I don’t think it would make a difference if the pubs are closed or not.

Kieran Kearns: Why should they close?

Stacey Hogg: There are 363 days in a year to sit in a pub and only two when they close. Let’s keep it that way.

Melina Verschoyle: Yes of course I think they should have permission to open. Our country, our hospitals, our schools and our local businesses need to be run by the appropriate authorities and professionals – not the Catholic Church. If for religious reasons you don’t want to consume alcohol on Good Friday, be a grown up and choose not to – all by yourself.