Hotel and other Licences
Hotel
A licence may be granted for a hotel being a premises with 10 bedrooms or apartments or 20 in a county borough or Dublin metropolitan district. This type of hotel did not have a bar. However later provisions of the Intoxicating Act 1960 allowed the acquisition of a bar and the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2000 allowing for conversion to a bar.
A person who holds a hotel licence may apply to the District Court, on the basis of one licence either acquired or consented to be extinguished in order to obtain a public bar permission. Where such an order is made, it is lawful to have a public bar in a hotel selling intoxicating liquor. The ordinary seven-day licence is extinguished.
This provision was more important prior to 2000 as it allowed the grant of a bar licence in a hotel on the extinguishment of one licence. Prior to 2000, the law  required extinguishment of two licences and compliance with  more complex conditions in urban areas to obtain an intoxicating liquor licence. The public bar provisions  grant hotels an equivalent licence, subject to conditions as to the hotel.
A hotel means a premises with at least 10 bedrooms or in a County Borough or Dublin Metropolitan District twenty bedroom/apartments set apart and used exclusively for the sleeping accommodation of travellers.
Bar in Hotel
In the case of hotel licences, where no public bar is held, an application may be made to the District Court on the basis of business being carried on within the previous five years as a hotel for an order which permits a public bar. It applies to premises licensed between 1902 and 1960.
Where the District Court is satisfied that at any  time within the previous five years, the person or persons carried on business as if it were a fully licensed premises and the court declares that it is so satisfied, the court may declare the licence to be a full licence.
In the latter case, there are conditions of payment of a fee of €3,170 to the Revenue and undertakings not to dispose of the premises, transfer the licence or consent to its extinguishment as if it were a full licence, for five years. A statement shall be entered in the District Court register to this effect.
Upgrade Restrictive Licence
A person who holds a restricted licence may under certain circumstances upgrade it to a full licence by extinguishing one licence. A restricted licence is a publican’s licence which is not a full licence, e.g. six days, early closing or a beer house licence.
A person may extinguish another restricted licence in that court area or two restricted licences elsewhere, or a full licence in which event, a full licence may be granted to the premises with a restricted licence.
Transfer from Nominee
Where a licence is held by a nominee for a body corporate, he may apply to court that it be transferred to such other person as the body corporate nominates.
Where the holder of a licence not being a nominee, ceases to carry on business for reason other than death, or transfer and if he is ordinarily resident, ceases to be resident or cannot be found, an application may be made to the court to transfer the licence. If the licence has expired and the transfer is made within one year ,a certificate may be granted for the renewal of the licence.
Licence Holder
The application shall not be granted if the holder objects or the court does not consider the applicant suitable. The transferee is deemed to be holder of the lowest estate or tenancy in the premises for the purpose of renewal of licence.
The holder of lowest estate or tenancy for which a licence is in force is entitled to apply to the court to have the licence transferred to him.A licence which is held by a person other than the holder of the lowest estate is not capable of being extinguished.
Sports Venue
The 2003 Act allows for the grant of licences to designated national sporting arenas. There is one of relatively low-level licence fee applicable. Croke Park the Aviva Stadium and the RDS are designated. Thomond Park Stadium has also been designated.
The Revenue Commissioners may, notwithstanding anything else in the Intoxicating Liquor Act, grant to the executive or persons authorised by the executive of an authorised racecourse, a licence for the sale of the intoxicating liquor at the authorised racecourse for consumption at the racecourse and for its renewal.
The licence so granted authorises the sale of intoxicating liquor during the period beginning from the time the race going public are permitted admission by the executive of the authorised racecourse to race fixture (not earlier than 10:30 a.m.) and ending two hours after the conclusion of the last race. Upon grant of a licence, any other intoxicatingly liquor licence ceases to apply.
The Gardai have search and  entry powers in relation to racecourses where are of the view that the conditions are not being complied with.
Substantial Meal
For the purpose of the Licensing Acts, a meal is not a substantial meal, unless it is such as might be expected to be served as a main midday or main evening meal or as a main course at either such meal and the meal is of a kind, having regard to the prices charged for meals in the premises at other times or if meals are normally served in the premises having regard to the circumstances, it would be reasonable to charge as um that not less than a sum fixed by ministerial order. A 2003 order fixed the sum at €9.