Tradition is well and good until you look at the sales receipts. That's the message coming from the Restaurant Association of Ireland, who are arguing that the time has come to lift the ban on the sale of alcohol on Good Friday.

According to the Irish Examiner, under the Intoxicating Liquor Act, Irish bars and restaurants are not be allowed serve alcoholic beverages on that day.

But in 2009, a Galway District Judge said prosecuting restaurants that offered wine with meals on Good Friday was 'ludicrous.'

Adrian Cummins, Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, agrees adding that the ban is damaging for the tourism industry:

'This is an archaic law dating back to the 19th century and as a progressive society and one that is trying to promote tourism, this has to be overturned.

'We need to have a more progressive law.'