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Intoxicating Liquor Act 2004

Type Act

Publication 2004-10-15

Last updated 2026-07-23

State In force superseded text

Text As published

Source Irish Statute Book

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This is the act as published. Later amendments are not folded into the text below: each one is a separate act in this repository and an entry in this law's history.

1 amending act · 2026-07-23, CRIMINAL LAW, CIVIL LAW AND DEFENCE (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 2026

Act to amend the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1988

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AN ACT TO AMEND THE INTOXICATING LIQUOR ACT 1988. [15th October, 2004]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:

1 Presence of persons on licensed premises.

1.—(1) For the purposes of section 34 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1988 (in this section referred to as the “Act of 1988”), it shall not be unlawful for the holder of a licence of licensed premises to allow a person under the age of 18 years to be on the licensed premises or any part of those premises at a time when—

(a) intoxicating liquor is not being sold, supplied or consumed on the premises or, as the case may be, that part, and

(b) physical access to intoxicating liquor on those premises or, as the case may be, that part is securely prevented.

(2) For the purposes of section 34A of the Act of 1988, it shall not be unlawful for the holder of a licence of any licensed premises to allow a person who is aged at least 18 years but under the age of 21 years and who has not produced an age document to the holder to be on the licensed premises or any part of those premises in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (1) of this section.

(3) For the purposes of sections 33 and 34 of the Act of 1988, it shall not be unlawful for a person under the age of 18 years to be on licensed premises or any part of those premises in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (1) of this section.

(4) For the purposes of section 34A of the Act of 1988, it shall not be unlawful for a person who is aged at least 18 years but under the age of 21 years and who does not have an age document with him or her to be on licensed premises or any part of those premises in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (1) of this section.

(5) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under section 33, 34 or 34A of the Act of 1988 to prove that at the time of the alleged offence intoxicating liquor was not being sold, supplied or consumed on the licensed premises concerned or, as the case may be, the part concerned of those premises and that any bar counter thereon was securely closed.

(6) Nothing in this Act shall prevent a person raising any point of law or plea or objection which, apart from this section, would be open to the person to raise in any proceedings for an offence under section 33, 34 or 34A of the Act of 1988.

(7)
(a) Sections 33 and 34A of the Act of 1988 are amended by the substitution of “9.00 p.m. (10.00 p.m. during the period commencing on 1 May and ending on 30 September)” for “9.00 p.m.”.

(b) Section 34 of that Act is amended by the substitution of “9.00 p.m. (10.00 p.m. during the period commencing on 1 May and ending on 30 September).” for “9.00 p.m.”, where it occurs.

(8) In this section references to sections of the Act of 1988 are to those sections as extended or amended by the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2000 and the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003.

2 Short title, collective citations and construction.

2.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2004.

(2) The Licensing Acts 1833 to 2003 and this Act may be cited together as the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2004 and shall be construed together as one.

(3) The Registration of Clubs Acts 1904 to 2003 and this Act may be cited together as the Registration of Clubs Acts 1904 to 2004.

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