PSNI and Holylands Off-Sales Agree Voluntary Closure on St Patricks Day

14 March 2017

PSNI and Holylands Off-Sales Agree Voluntary Closure on St Patricks Day

Commenting on the agreement by local Off-sales and the PSNI, Colin Neill, CEO Hospitality Ulster said:

 "I can understand both sides of this debate. I have sympathy with residents of the Holylands, who have been subjected to unacceptable behaviour on St Patrick’s Day, year after year. However, I also have sympathy for the local Off-sales and commend them for voluntarily agreeing to close"

“We know that this is only one element to the so called ‘street-party’ problem and the majority of alcohol is most likely purchased in supermarkets at rock bottom prices in the days leading up to the event.  I call on the supermarkets to match the actions of the local Off-sales and stop deliveries of alcohol into the Holylands area on St Patrick's Day and the day before"


"Hospitality Ulster will be doing all that it can in co-operation with the PSNI and others to ensure any trouble is minimised on the day, though in our view this problem goes far beyond the sale of alcohol and can only be addressed by a proper strategy to re-balance the mix of residents locally which has become unbalanced in favour of student accommodation."