TROOPS ON PATROL; INTERIOR HOTEL BEFORE EARLY CLOSING; PEOPLE BUYING BOTTLED DRINK; MILITARY POLICE SUPERVISING CLOSING TIME. (NATSOF)




Initials AJC/V/CT/SGM



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Background: ALL HOTELS IN BELFAST CLOSED EARLY TONIGHT...THE FIRST NIGHT OF A WEEKEND RESTRICTION IMPOSED BY THE NORTHERN IRELAND GOVERNMENT IN A BID TO STOP RIOTING. EARLIER, NORTHERN IRELAND'S HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER, MR. ROBERT PORTER, SAID THERE WERE INDICATIONS THAT DRINK WAS A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROTESTANT-CATHOLIC RIOTS.

THE PUBS CLOSED AT SEVEN P.M., THREE HOURS EARLIER THAN NORMAL, AND WILL SHUT AT THE SAME TIME TOMORROW NIGHT. THE UNPRECEDENTED ORDER ALSO APPLIES TO HOTEL BARS AND LIQUOR SHOPS AS WELL AS LICENSED RESTAURANTS AND THEATRES.

PUBLICANS PROTESTED AT THE ORDER. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BELFAST AND ULSTER LICENSED VICTUALLERS ASSOCIATION CALLED IT A DAMNABLE DECISION AND SAID "WE ARE NOT PREPARED TO LET DRINK BE BLAMED FOR WHAT HAS BEEN REAL POLITICAL TROUBLE."
THE DRINKING CURFEW WENT INTO EFFECT AS BELFAST POLICE RESUMED PATROLS OF THE FALLS ROAD CATHOLIC DISTRICT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE STREET RIOTS TWO MONTHS AGO.