licensing laws in belfast

[krainey]

can anyone provide a definitive answer as to wher i stand on drinking up time in a bar? yet again i have bought a drink at last orders only to have door staff screaming at me to leave five minutes later!!

[glasman]

I live somewhat down south from you so i'm wondering if, at 11.21 when you sent your question, you are speaking about tonight?. On Friday and Saturday nights down here closing time is 12.30am with (I believe, under law) half an hour drinking-up time. I have been ( happily after partaking of a few tonight ) checking your laws and they seem very vague on this point. For example, they seem to suggest that whatever the proprietor says goes. However, under law, it seems that the regulations that apply in any premises should be prominently displayed in your pub so, maybe, you can make your case from there........slainte.

[edukes]

15 years ex land lady here
Belfast is the uk so Uk law stands
You have 20 mins to drink and LEAVE the premises from the time bell. After this the staff have a legal right to remove any alcohol off as you are then breaking the law unless you have purchased it for consumption off the premises and all seals are intact.
the reason they start screaming at 5 past is because it takes 15 mins to get people to move as nobody wants to leave. this screaming is not personnel its just to motivate you to move your butt before the 20 mins are up,
There are really hefty fines for the landlord if his caught with people on his premises after time, and it is also an arrest-able offence if you refuse to leave a licenced premises when aked to do so by licencee or his agents
hope this has helped