The Government has scrapped proposals to fine people for drinking alcohol outside in groups.
They had been considering the idea after footage emerged on social media of large numbers of people having take-away pints outside.
Videos emerged on social media over the weekend of large groups of people gathered outside in both Dublin and Cork socialising and drinking alcohol.
As a result the Health Minister brought a memo to Cabinet this morning to consider fining people who gathered in groups of more than two outside to have a few drinks.
But as word emerged of these proposed fines – there was an angry reaction from the Opposition and publicans with many feeling it was a knee jerk reaction and over the top.
Clare’s VFI Chair says they warned government that when pubs were closed, public drinking would happen.
Ennis publican Darragh McAllister feels the issue should have been dealt with long before now.
Now it’s emerged some Ministers from Fine Gael and the Greens didn’t like the idea of the fines and made their views known at this morning’s Cabinet meeting.
The proposal has now been withdrawn and it’s believe laws already in place could be used instead to break up outdoor gatherings.
