VI
EN
Pubs across Ireland have been closed, and alcoholic beverages can only be sold in supermarkets and licensed pubs after 8 p.m. in the Republic of Ireland, due to Covid-19 restrictions. Following this, a Vietnamese food and beverage industry association (VFI) warned of an increase in "uncontrolled drinking," leading to the emergence of illegal bar and alcohol sales.
VFI estimates that there is at least one illegal pub operating in every county in Ireland.
Illegally sold liquor (shebeen) establishments have been appearing and being raided by police since October. On October 10th alone, Irish police raided such locations in counties like Laois, Meath, and Westmeath. Authorities seized not only liquor and beer crates but also other selling equipment.
Last week, a "shebeen" was shut down in County Kildare, and police confiscated tables, chairs, a 70-inch screen, and a billiard table.
Pubs in Laois, Meath, and Westmeath were raided on October 10.
On the north side of the border, in Northern Ireland, police said they were aware of illegal alcohol sales during the Covid pandemic. Northern Ireland police (part of the UK), however, only warned that they would “take action against anyone breaking the law.”
In Greater Manchester, Wigan, and London (England), many gatherings for drinking alcohol, which were not permitted by authorities due to Covid-19 restrictions, were broken up by police on Halloween night, November 1st.
Restaurants and entertainment venues are only permitted to sell food for takeout and home delivery, under current restrictions in Northern Ireland.
A group playing pirated music in Poplar, East London, was fined up to £10,000 for violating Covid-19 restrictions. But these were small groups, not comparable to a large party that defied gatherings in Yate, near Bristol. According to police, this illegal party brought together nearly 700 people and lasted until 4 am.
This isn't the first time such a large, illegal party has taken place in the UK. Back in August, around 3,000 people arranged online to gather in Banwen, Wales, for a party they knew was prohibited. The organizers were subsequently fined £10,000 each. Most notably, they told police they were only "making tea" for the guests. Many parties circumvent the law by having attendees bring their own alcohol. While drinking alcohol individually is legal, large gatherings (more than six people not from the same family in the UK) were, until recently, considered illegal.
Many parties circumvent the rules by having everyone bring their own beer or liquor.
From November 5th to December 2nd, 2020, the new lockdown order also prohibited gatherings of up to six people, and residents were only allowed to meet one person from another household in an outdoor location.
