Hapless night club guidelines cap shambolic week, say VFI 

The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) says that guidelines published for the night club and late bar sectors will lead to confusion among both staff and customers and will be impossible to implement.

The VFI says that making late night events ‘all ticket’, which must be purchased in advance, will lead to public order incidents as large ticketless crowds gather outside clubs.

Padraig Cribben, VFI Chief Executive, says: “When it comes to reopening guidelines for the late night sector the government appear to be all over the place with no practical knowledge of how the sector operates. Yesterday it was suggested events would be all ticket only for that stipulation to be removed from the guidelines, yet hours before clubs reopen tickets will once again be mandatory.

“This really has been a shambolic process from the press conference last Tuesday to this last minute senseless U-turn. We now have a situation where clubs can sell tickets at the door this weekend but must move to ticket only in advance by next week.

“We’re extremely worried the new guidelines will lead to public order incidents as ticketless groups gather outside clubs. It is unworkable.

“There remains simple questions that cannot be answered. How will this be managed in late bars? How will music and dancing be regulated in traditional pubs? Simple questions but officials remain unable to explain what guidelines pubs should implement.

“After bring constrained for so long the sector deserves better. Right now it’s in a total mess with no leadership from government,” concludes Mr Cribben.

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