Pubs across the island of Ireland have been closed and alcohol is only allowed to be sold in supermarkets and licensed pubs after 8pm in the Republic of Ireland due to Covid-19 restrictions. Shortly after, the VFI warned of a rise in “uncontrolled drinking”, leading to the opening of illegal bars and the sale of alcohol.
VFI estimates that there is at least one underground pub operating in every county in Ireland.
Shebeens have been on the rise since October. Irish police raided several shebeens in counties Laois, Meath and Westmeath on October 10. Authorities seized not only alcohol and beer but also other selling equipment.
Last week, a "shebeen" was shut down in County Kildare and police seized tables, chairs, a 70-inch screen, and a pool table.
Pubs in Laois, Meath and Westmeath were searched on October 10
North of the border, in Northern Ireland, police say they are aware of illegal alcohol sales during the Covid pandemic. Police in Northern Ireland (part of the UK), however, have only warned that they will “take action against anyone breaking the law”.
In Greater Manchester, Wigan, and London (UK), many gatherings for alcohol consumption that were not permitted by the government under anti-Covid-19 regulations were dispersed by the police on Halloween night, November 1.
Catering establishments are only allowed to sell takeaway and home delivery food, under restrictions in place in Northern Ireland
A group of pirates in Poplar, East London, were fined £10,000 for violating Covid-19 restrictions. But those were small groups, not the large party that defied a ban on gatherings in Yate, near Bristol. According to police, the illegal party gathered nearly 700 people and lasted until 4am.
This is not the first time such a large illegal party has taken place in the UK. In August, around 3,000 people arranged via social media to travel to Banwen, Wales, for what they knew was an illegal party. The organizers were later fined £10,000 each. Most notably, they told police they were only “making tea” for their guests. Many parties are known to skirt the law by bringing their own alcohol. While private drinking is legal, large gatherings (more than six non-family members in the UK) were, until recently, illegal.
Many parties circumvent the law by allowing everyone to bring their own beer and alcohol.
From November 5 to December 2, 2020, the new lockdown also prohibits gatherings of up to six people, and people are only allowed to meet one person from another household, in an outdoor location.
