With Northern Ireland celebrating its Year of Food and Drink in 2016, Hospitality Ulster believes there is a "real opportunity" to drive tourism growth in the region.
According to belfastlive.co.uk, the group has called on the Northern Ireland Assembly to modernise the alcohol licensing laws in an attempt to tap into increasing visitor numbers.
The Hospitality Ulster campaign to modernise the licensing laws comes after a petition was started last year for the same issue, highlighting that some of the current laws are up to a century old.
"We have been promised the introduction of a bill at the Northern Ireland Assembly to make the necessary changes, however the Assembly has failed to bring it forward," said Colin Neill, Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster.
He added: "It is a worrying trend that 65% who drink alcohol, consume it at home, while only 20% do so in a pub and 16% in restaurants taking it out of the social setting where is it a safe and regulated environment. Harmful drinking is increasing and the industry is suffering under current law."
