Alcohol industry representatives have described as “punitive” and “short-sighted” increases in beer, wine and spirits in Budget 2014.
They said the 10c rise in excise duty for a pint of beer and cider and the standard measure of spirts, and a 50c increase for a standard bottle of wine would drive consumers across the border.
But Alcohol Action Ireland welcomed the rises and said, along with similar increases last year, it would help contribute to a fall in alcohol consumption.
Last year, beer, cider and spirits were hit with a 10c rise, while an extra €1 was put on 75cl bottles of wine.
The Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland, representing suppliers and manufacturers, said it was “bad for jobs and bad for growth”.
ABFI director Kathryn D’Arcy said: “The decision to increase indirect taxes through huge excise increases is short-sighted and will damage employment.
“The minister stated the importance of the agri-food industry to our domestic recovery and then imposed a series of punitive excise increases on a vital aspect of this industry.”
She said prior to the budget, a basket of alcohol products was more than 30% cheaper in the North and we would see “a resumption in cross-border shopping”.
Source: Cormac O'Keeffe, Irish Examiner, 17/10/13
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