I sent this post to an AA friend in Ireland.  Thought you folks might be
interested in his response:

Nancy Olson

The licencening laws in  the Republic of Ireland are  about to be changed
next month . Opening hours will be longer - by two hours( I think) every
evening during the summer period .

This has been on the agenda  for years and the general public  seem to be
very happy about it - it is slowly coming into line with the rest of the
Europe (the world ) and the changes are supposed to cater for the millions
of tourists who flock to our shores every year.

 The Public House plays  a huge part in Irish social interaction (pub
culture) and some say   the longer hours  just may have a beneficial impact
on alcohol abuse.

Irish people tend to gulp their drinks (lack of time ! at least I did ) and
it is believed that the extra time will encourage people to change their
habits  and  couple their drinking with a  meal .

On a social/entertaining level the Pub is the magnet or the meeting place
(probably not unique to Ireland) - it was a necessity for me .

I don't think we have any more or less alcoholics in Ireland per capita to
the rest of the world . The Irish psyche in unique in many ways and our
attitude to drink is somewhat more relaxed or maybe that should read less
informed .

Nevertheless , as someone on the outside looking in and having been on the
other side of the fence , my journey  is still on going , thank God. I
hope  all this makes some sense - it is written off the top of my head .

Thank you once again for all the information and I am really looking
forward to meeting you in Minneapolis . The web-site has given a new and
exciting  dimension to my  sobriety and AA .