TAOISEACH Micheál Martin has hit out at the sale of takeaway pints in Ireland during a press conference this afternoon.
He urged the public to "forget about takeaway pints" but stopped short of actually prohibiting them altogether.
The Taoiseach stressed that this is "a very serious situation we are in."
"No publican should be selling takeaway pints right on the streets ... it leads to congregation. It leads to gathering of people, which can spread the disease and the virus.
"And that's a very, very clear message from me and from government in relation to that."
“Forget about takeaway pints”
Taoiseach says government have a clear message in relation to the selling of takeaway alcoholic drinks. | Follow live updates: https://t.co/MO56HKlpOK pic.twitter.com/kjCyCsppYC— RTÉ News (@rtenews) January 6, 2021
Martin was addressing reporters following a Cabinet meeting earlier today where a set a new measures were agreed upon, including the closures of schools and the construction industry until the end of January.
Off licenses and essential shops such as supermarkets are permitted to stay open, though pubs and restaurants are to remain closed.
Despite this, gastropubs and restaurants are able to stay open on a takeaway basis, and Martin failed to specify whether he was introducing a ban on takeaway pints or simply discouraging them in his earlier address.
He did however say that regulations on gatherings could be used to stop the practice from happening.
"The message is clear. Stay at home," Martin added.
"We're saying to publicans 'it's not on that anyone would be selling pints. Forget about selling pints right now'."
See More: Covid-19, Micheál Martin, Pubs, Takeaway Pints
