Pubs & Gender

Pubs & Gender Discrimination

Discrimination on the ‘gender ground’ happens where there is less favourable treatment of one person compared to another, because one is a woman and the other is a man.

Under EU law, a transgender person who experiences discrimination arising from their gender reassignment, or transition, is also protected under the gender ground.

Pubs, as licenced premises selling alcohol, cannot discriminate on any of the nine specified grounds (Age, Civil Status, Disability, Family Status, Gender, Membership of the Traveller Community, Race, Religion, Sexual Orientation) with respect to entry or service provision under the Equal Status Acts.

A pub cannot refuse to let you in because you are a member of a particular group covered by the law, or because you are with such a person, or because the staff think you are such a person.

There are two different routes for complaints about discrimination by pubs.

Case Studies

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What's next?

Make a complaint

Contact us

We, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, have a statutory role to fight discrimination and provide information on equality and human rights in Ireland. Please note however that we are not a court and we do not decide on discrimination claims.

Learn more about how to contact us

Contact another organisation

You may find that another organisation could better help you with your issue.

  • Women's rights and equality

    National Women’s Council Ireland

  • LGBTI+ support services

    BeLonG To Youth Services

  • Transgender persons

    Teni Transgender Equality Network Ireland

  • LGBTI+ support services

    LBGT Ireland

  • Legal advice

    Free Legal Advice Centres

  • Legal aid

    The Legal Aid Board

  • Community law and mediation

    Community Law & Mediation

  • Citizen's Information Centres

    Citizen's Information

Browse the database of organisations working on human rights and equality issues in Ireland.

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