Dublin planning officer: More pubs will reduce drink driving as people wouldn't have as far to travel

The planning officer for Dublin city and country wanted the one mile restriction between pubs abolished in favour of half mile limits.

A PLANNING OFFICER for Dublin called for more local pubs to be opened in order to reduce the number of drink related incidents.

An Oireachtas joint committee heard these proposal in 1985, according to press cuttings from the Evening Press, which were filed in the State Papers.

E G McCarron argued that roads would be safer if the distance a person had to travel to a pub was shorter.

The planning officer for Dublin city and country wanted the one mile restriction between pubs abolished in favour of half mile limits.

The incidence of drink related offences would be reduced if more ‘local’ pubs were provided and the one-mile restriction between pubs abolished.

He said that a one mile restriction wasn’t appropriate for “rapidly developing areas”.

Calling for more local pubs to be provided, he said the one mile restraint “gave a catchment of 5,000 houses, involving about 20,000 people”.

The article entitled, “‘Locals’ reduce drunken driving’ was published on 17 October 1985.

The committee was reviewing the licensing laws at the time.