student asking question

Why would it be banned? Did Ireland have a "Prohibition Act" as well?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

While it is quite common now to celebrate St Patrick's by drinking at pubs and bars across the country, the Irish couldn’t drink at pubs and bars from 1903 until the 1970s, due to a rule which meant that all pubs and bars had to close on St. Patrick’s Day after drinking reportedly got out of hand. In 1927, the Irish government banned the selling of alcohol on St. Patrick’s Day, although it remained legal in Northern Ireland. The ban was not repealed until 1961. So, you can think of it more as a restriction rather than a Prohibition Act. Drinking was still allowed on other days.

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