The Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) called for the reversal of excise duty on alcohol, after new figures from Eurostat revealed that alcohol prices were the highest in Europe.
The figures also revealed that alcohol prices are 75% higher than the EU average. The DIGI group, made up of restaurants, hotels, pubs, independent off-licences and suppliers, has said that the high price of alcohol in Ireland is directly related to the unfair excise rate and this is a “direct tax on jobs, tourism and consumers”.
The representative body has argued that excises which were implemented as "an emergency measure" between 2012 and 2013 have remained in place since, and these taxes are pushing up prices in the country.
According to a statement released by DIGI, the group claims that since 2012, excise on beer has risen by 44%, on spirits by 37% and on wine by 62%.
Donall O'Keeffe, Secretary of the Drinks Industry Group said excise is a tax on jobs, tourism and consumers.
"Excise increases in Budget 2012 and 2013 were applied at a time of economic crisis and now that we are moving towards recovery, a reversal should be applied, to take this heavy burden from consumers, tourists and businesses in the drinks and hospitality sector. The Eurostat figures provide compelling evidence for an excise reversal,” said O'Keeffe
DIGI is currently running the “Support Your Local” campaign, which seeks to highlight the significant social and economic contribution made by the Irish drinks industry.
© 2016 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by John Golden. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
