Selling alcohol

Northern Ireland Christmas licensing hours

Guide

In Northern Ireland, premises licensed to sell alcohol must abide by certain trading rules which specify the permitted hours for sale. 

Licensed premises, such as bars, hotels and restaurants, may normally sell alcohol from 11:30am to 11pm, or on Sundays from 12:30pm to 11pm.

Some licensed premises have a 'late licence' that allows them to sell alcohol as late as 1am or with further additional permitted hours until 2am.

The permitted hours are different for Christmas Day.

Christmas licensing hours 2023

The permitted hours that licensed premises can sell alcohol during the Christmas period are:

Christmas Eve, 24 December 2023 (Sunday)

Licensed premises can sell alcohol from 12:30pm to 11pm. Those with a late licence may sell alcohol until 1am, or with further additional permitted hours until 2am. Off-licences may sell alcohol from 10am to 10pm.

Christmas Day, 25 December 2023 (Monday)

Licensed premises may sell alcohol from 12:30pm to 10pm, even if they hold a late licence. Off-licences are not allowed to sell alcohol at all.

Boxing Day, 26 December 2023 (Tuesday)

Licensed premises may sell alcohol from 11:30am to 11pm, and those with a late licence may sell alcohol until 1am, or with further additional permitted hours until 2am. Off-licences may sell alcohol from 8am to 11pm.

New Year's Eve, 31 December 2023 (Sunday)

Licensed premises can sell alcohol from 12:30pm to 11pm. Those with a late licence may sell alcohol until 1am, or with further additional permitted hours until 2am. Off-licences may sell alcohol from 10am to 10pm.