If you’re planning an Easter weekend in Ireland and wondering whether you can pick up a bottle on Sunday, the answer is yes—supermarkets and off-licences can sell alcohol, just not before 12:30pm. The Good Friday ban that once shut down pubs and stores across the country was lifted in 2018, so Easter Sunday now follows the same rules as any regular Sunday. Here’s everything you need to know about Irish alcohol licensing hours, what changed, and where to find the official details.

4 related posts

Sunday off-licence start: 12:30pm ·
Good Friday ban lifted: 2018 ·
On-licence Sunday hours: 12:30pm to 11:00pm ·
Christmas Day: Alcohol sales prohibited

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact Easter Monday supermarket hours vary by chain
  • Whether individual stores independently choose earlier closing on holidays
  • Most current year-specific supermarket chain announcements not publicly available
3Timeline signal
  • 1927: Alcohol bans introduced including Good Friday
  • 2010: Limerick publicans first opened Good Friday since 1927
  • 2018: Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Act passed nationwide
4What’s next
  • Christmas Day remains the only day with total alcohol ban for pubs
  • Easter Monday follows public holiday rules, similar to Sundays

The table below summarises the core alcohol sales rules that apply across the Republic of Ireland.

Rule Details
Easter Sunday alcohol sales Allowed per Sunday rules
Sunday start time 12:30pm off-licences
Good Friday change Ban ended 2018
On-licence Sundays 12:30pm to 11pm
Christmas Day Complete prohibition
St Patrick’s Day 12:30pm to 12:30am next day

Can you buy alcohol on Easter Sunday in Ireland?

Yes. Easter Sunday in the Republic of Ireland follows standard Sunday alcohol sales rules, meaning off-licences and supermarkets can sell alcohol—but only from 12:30pm onwards. There is no specific Easter Sunday ban separate from the general Sunday restriction that has been in place for years.

Pubs and on-licences

Pubs and restaurants (on-licences) in the Republic of Ireland can serve alcohol on Easter Sunday from 12:30pm until 11pm, according to the VFI Pubs official trading hours guidance. This is the same schedule that applies to any regular Sunday. Good Friday is not a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, but since 2018 it operates like any other trading day—pubs are under no legal obligation to close, and most choose to open.

Supermarkets and off-licences

Stores like Lidl, Tesco, and Dunnes can sell alcohol on Easter Sunday starting at 12:30pm, with sales ending by 10pm to comply with off-licence rules. Lidl has announced its Easter Sunday 2026 opening hours as 9am to 6pm, which falls within the standard Sunday alcohol sales window. Before 12:30pm, alcohol aisles are typically blocked off or customers are turned away at checkout. The trade group VFI supported the 2018 Good Friday opening, calling it “good news, both for publicans and their customers but also for the many tourists who visit Ireland over the Easter weekend, who in the past would find the pubs closed during a major holiday,” according to The Ditch news site.

The upshot

Supermarkets can legally sell alcohol on Easter Sunday, but only from 12:30pm. If you’re planning to shop before noon, you’ll need to wait or go without.

What time can you buy alcohol on Sunday in Ireland?

Off-licences and supermarkets in the Republic of Ireland are permitted to sell alcohol on Sundays from 12:30pm to 10pm. This window applies to Easter Sunday and all other Sundays—there is no additional restriction specific to Easter.

Off-licence hours

Standard weekday off-licence hours run from 10:30am to 10:30pm Monday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday extend to 12:30am the following day. Sunday hours are more restrictive, starting at 12:30pm and closing at 10pm, according to the Castle Forbes College alcohol licensing blog. The alcohol aisles in supermarkets are physically blocked off before the 12:30pm start time, and staff will refuse to ring up alcohol items if you try to purchase them earlier.

Supermarket specifics like Tesco and Dunnes

Individual chains set their own store opening hours, but alcohol sales still fall under the same legal framework regardless of retailer. Lidl’s Easter Sunday 2026 hours run from 9am to 6pm, meaning alcohol would be available from 12:30pm when their stores open. Tesco and Dunnes typically follow similar Sunday patterns, though specific holiday hours vary. The critical point is the 12:30pm start time—this applies across all off-licences and supermarket alcohol sections in the Republic.

Why this matters

If you’re heading to the supermarket on Easter Sunday morning, complete your regular shopping first. Alcohol won’t be available at the register until 12:30pm, no matter which chain you visit.

Can you buy alcohol on Good Friday in Ireland?

Yes—and this was a significant change. The Good Friday alcohol ban that had been in place since 1927 was lifted in January 2018 when the Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Act came into force. Before that date, pubs, restaurants, and supermarkets were prohibited from selling alcohol on Good Friday. The ban also covered Christmas Day.

Post-2018 changes

The 2018 legislation removed Good Friday from the list of restricted days, treating it like any other trading day. “The Good Friday ban was introduced a lifetime ago in 1927 and we took the view that such a piece of archaic and discriminatory legislation needed to be removed,” stated the VFI trade group comment on The Ditch. The law change came after years of pressure from publicans and tourism bodies who argued the ban was outdated and deterred visitors during a major holiday period.

Pubs, restaurants, supermarkets

Since 2018, most pubs and off-licences serve alcohol normally on Good Friday. Supermarkets no longer seal off their alcohol sections on this day. However, Good Friday is not a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, so workers have no automatic legal right to time off. Christmas Day remains the only day with a complete prohibition—pubs cannot trade at any time on December 25th, according to the VFI Pubs official trading hours document.

What are Irish alcohol licensing hours?

Irish alcohol licensing hours vary depending on whether you are at a pub (on-licence) or a supermarket (off-licence), and whether it’s a weekday, weekend, or public holiday. The VFI Pubs official trading hours guide provides the detailed legal framework.

On-licences weekly

Monday through Thursday, pubs can trade from 10:30am to 11:30pm. Friday and Saturday extend the hours until 12:30am the following day. A half-hour drinking-up time is allowed after closing, meaning patrons can remain inside until 12am (Monday-Thursday) or 1am (Friday-Saturday). Holy Thursday follows the standard Friday-Saturday schedule, running 10:30am to 12:30am.

Sundays and holidays

Sundays (including Easter Sunday) see on-licence hours from 12:30pm to 11pm, with drinking-up time until 11:30pm. On the eve of a public holiday that falls on a weekday, pubs can trade from 10:30am to 12:30am the next day. If that eve falls on a Sunday, hours run from 12:30pm to 12:30am. St Patrick’s Day has its own special provision: pubs can trade from 12:30pm to 12:30am the following day. Easter Monday is a public holiday, so it follows the public holiday schedule, similar to Sundays.

Bottom line: Most Irish pubs operate under a 10:30am start time Monday through Thursday, extending later on Fridays and Saturdays. Sundays and Easter Monday are more restrictive starting at 12:30pm.

Alcohol sales on bank holidays and Easter in Ireland?

Bank holidays in Ireland follow rules similar to Sundays for alcohol sales, with some variations depending on whether the holiday falls on a weekday. Easter Monday operates under public holiday provisions, while Easter Sunday follows standard Sunday hours.

Bank holiday rules

On the eve of a public holiday (weekday), pubs trade from 10:30am to 12:30am the next day. If that eve is a Sunday, hours run from 12:30pm to 12:30am. Off-licences typically follow the same 12:30pm to 10pm Sunday pattern on public holidays, though individual supermarket opening hours vary. There is no special Easter-specific restriction—Easter Sunday simply falls under the standard Sunday rules. Easter Monday, as a public holiday, follows the standard public holiday alcohol sales rules, which means on-licences can trade from 12:30pm and off-licences from 12:30pm. Lidl has announced its Easter Monday 2026 hours as 9am to 9pm. Unlike Easter Sunday (which follows normal Sunday rules), Easter Monday benefits from public holiday provisions that may allow extended trading on the preceding Sunday evening.

Easter Monday

Easter Monday is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland with a variable date—it falls on the first Monday after the first Sunday after March 21. As a public holiday, Easter Monday follows the standard public holiday alcohol sales rules, which means on-licences can trade from 12:30pm and off-licences from 12:30pm. Lidl has announced its Easter Monday 2026 hours as 9am to 9pm. Unlike Easter Sunday (which follows normal Sunday rules), Easter Monday benefits from public holiday provisions that may allow extended trading on the preceding Sunday evening.

The catch

Christmas Day is the exception—no alcohol sales anywhere, at any time. This remains the only complete prohibition regardless of the 2018 changes.

What the sources say

“Pubs opening on Good Friday is good news, both for publicans and their customers but also for the many tourists who visit Ireland over the Easter weekend, who in the past would find the pubs closed during a major holiday.”

— Padraig Cribben, VFI chief executive (The Ditch news site)

“The Good Friday ban was introduced a lifetime ago in 1927 and we took the view that such a piece of archaic and discriminatory legislation needed to be removed.”

— VFI trade group (The Ditch news site)

“The dollar or the euro always wins out; I mean, supermarkets will say that they’re opening extra hours to be more convenient to everyone. The reality is they’re opening extra house to maximise profits and deliver better yields to their shareholders.”

— Industry commentator (BreakingNews.ie report on Good Friday trading)

Upsides

  • Good Friday alcohol ban lifted 2018—you can now buy alcohol throughout Easter weekend
  • Easter Sunday follows standard Sunday rules with no extra restrictions
  • Pubs open normal hours Easter Sunday from 12:30pm
  • Supermarkets open on Easter Sunday within alcohol sales window

Downsides

  • No alcohol sales before 12:30pm on Sundays
  • Christmas Day remains completely off-limits for alcohol sales
  • Good Friday is not a public holiday—workers may not get time off
  • Individual supermarket holiday hours vary—call ahead to confirm

Related reading: Lidl Ireland Easter Sunday hours · Northern Ireland Easter licensing hours

While alcohol flows from 12:30pm at off-licences and pubs, supermarket hours Easter Sundayreveals how major supermarket chains handle Easter Sunday with split operations across Ireland.

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Frequently asked questions

Is it okay to drink on Easter Sunday?

Yes. Easter Sunday in Ireland follows the same alcohol sales rules as any regular Sunday. Off-licences and pubs can sell alcohol from 12:30pm onwards. There is no specific Easter Sunday ban separate from the general Sunday restriction.

Can you drink on Easter?

You can buy and consume alcohol on Good Friday, Easter Saturday, and Easter Sunday—all days follow normal trading hours since the Good Friday ban was lifted in 2018. Easter Monday is a public holiday and alcohol is permitted there too.

What is the rule for Easter Sunday?

Easter Sunday alcohol sales follow standard Sunday rules: off-licences and supermarkets can sell from 12:30pm to 10pm, while pubs can serve from 12:30pm to 11pm. There is no additional Easter-specific restriction in the Republic of Ireland.

Can I buy alcohol on a Sunday in Ireland?

Yes, from 12:30pm onwards at off-licences and supermarkets. The 12:30pm start time applies every Sunday, including Easter Sunday. Before that time, alcohol sales are prohibited by law regardless of store opening hours.

What time can you buy alcohol on bank holiday?

Bank holidays generally follow the same rules as Sundays. Off-licences can sell from 12:30pm to 10pm. The eve of a bank holiday sees extended pub hours from 10:30am to 12:30am the next day, including Sunday evenings if the eve falls on a Sunday.

What time can you buy alcohol in Ireland on bank holiday?

Bank holidays follow Sunday-style restrictions for off-licences (12:30pm to 10pm). Easter Monday is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, so it operates under the same public holiday provisions as other bank holidays, with similar alcohol sales windows.

Can you buy alcohol on Good Friday in Ireland?

Yes. The Good Friday alcohol ban was lifted in 2018 via the Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Act. Supermarkets, pubs, and restaurants can sell alcohol on Good Friday. However, Good Friday is not a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, so workers have no automatic right to time off.

How do Northern Ireland Easter hours differ?

Northern Ireland allows licensed premises to sell alcohol from 11:30am to 11pm on Easter, according to the official NI Business Info licensing guidance. This is 30 minutes earlier than the Republic’s 12:30pm Sunday start. Northern Ireland premises can also extend to 1am with a late licence. The two jurisdictions have separate licensing rules entirely.