Three months of public consultation began in Northern Ireland Tuesday on the prospect of extending pubs' closing times by three hours.
Social Development Minister David Hanson said unlike England, there were no plans to introduce liquor licenses to serve alcohol 24 hours per day, the Belfast Telegraph reported.
Under current laws, bars and nightclubs can serve alcohol until 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday nights, and midnight Sundays. Customers are allowed half an hour to finish drinks.
The government will have public hearings on whether to allow an extension of pub hours to 2 a.m. from Monday to Saturday, with no change to the Sunday closing time.
Even if there is widespread support during the consultation period, the liquor laws won't be changed until 2007, the newspaper said.
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