The Irish National Off-Licence Association (NOffLA) has said that a reduction in excise of 10c on spirits/beer/cider and 50c per bottle of wine in 2017, would motivate 54 per cent of businesses to take on new staff and, 62 per cent to increase salaries for existing workers and 81 per cent to re-invest in their business.
At the same time, the organisation also warned that an increase on excise would put 55 per cent of off-license in a vulnerable position.
Independent off-licences across the country have lost 3,000 jobs since 2008 and NOffLA urged the Government to protect the remaining 5,900 by calling on the Government to reverse the Budget 2014 excise increases on alcohol.
Ireland has the highest excise on wine in the EU and the third highest tax on beer and spirits. As a result of these taxes, Ireland is only behind Finland, Sweden and the UK in having the highest taxes on alcohol in the EU.
Evelyn Jones, Government Affairs Director NOffLA called on the current Irish Government to take positive and decisive action that will safeguard jobs, encourage local investment and ultimately contribute to the development of local communities.
© 2016 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Gabriela Guédez. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
