NIGHT outs in Fermanagh could change if new licensing laws are made law by the Northern Ireland Executive.

The Northern Ireland Assembly hosted a debate on the issue last week, with MLAs taking part in a long sitting of the Assembly, with business not concluding until the early hours of last Wednesday morning, June 9.

The debate centred on Northern Ireland’s licensing laws, with the proposed Bill having 63 amendments which were debated by MLAs.

The Licensing and Registration of Clubs Bill would pave the way for certain licensed premises to be able to serve alcohol for an extra hour up to 104 times a year.

This would allow alcohol to be served to 2am at weekends, with smaller pubs able to extend the time for last orders up to 85 times a year.

The current “drinking-up” time of 30 minutes for all licensed premises would be increased to one hour under the Bill, to discourage people from drinking too quickly, and to allow more time for gradual departures at the end of the night.

The Bill would also see pubs being able to stay open for drinking up until 3am at weekends.

The reforms include the removal of restrictions that currently limit trading hours over the Easter period.

Glenda McGovern, The Corner Bar, welcomed the proposed changes for Easter licensing laws.

She said: “Easter [changes] would be welcome; there are a lot of tourists about the town, and then you have to put them out early and you’re not allowed to open until 5pm. People end up going out to Blacklion or elsewhere.”

Pat Blake, of Blake’s of the Hollow, said: “I welcome the changes that have passed the consideration stages by a clear majority.

"A number of the changes that are coming about, to put it bluntly, are no-brainers.

"In respect of the removal of initial restrictions at Easter, and the removal of restrictions for the late opening on Sundays which are bank holiday weekends, those changes should have come about years ago."

However, he was apprehensive about some of the measures: “The prospect of additional hours up to 2am is a different matter – some pubs will welcome this, while others may see it as an additional burden.

"It is probably the one area which will give most debate around health matters and excess consumption of alcohol, and the behaviours surrounding excess consumption.”

The Bill does not solely affect pubs and nightclubs. Other proposed law changes include limits on where supermarkets can promote deals on alcohol sales, in areas around where the products are sold in store.

The Bill would also ban the use of loyalty schemes in off-licences. Independent MLA Claire Sugden proposed that cinemas be allowed to serve alcohol.

Fermanagh South Tyrone MLAs Rosemary Barton, Jemma Dolan, Colm Gildernew and Sean Lynch were present in the Assembly Chamber and voted in favour of the new Bill; First Minister Arlene Foster was absent from the Chamber, according to the Hansard record.

The Bill passed with 58 in favour and 28 against.

It now has only two further stages before it receives Royal assent and becomes law. This is likely to happen over summer, and then become a law in October.