Max HeyraudIreland’s pubs are under siege.
The Irish drinks industry is pushing for a 10% cut in alcohol excise in the upcoming October Budget, warning that sky-high taxes are putting pubs across the country at serious risk.
Excise duty on beer, wine, and spirits in Ireland is among the highest in Europe, second only to Finland. Irish beer drinkers pay eleven times more than Germans, wine fans pay 80 times more than the French rate, and VAT on top pushes the government’s cut of every pint or glass to nearly 29%. Meanwhile, alcohol consumption per adult has dropped by over a third since 2001, now sitting at the EU average.
The consequences are already visible. Over 2,100 pubs have closed permanently in recent years, and as many as 1,000 more could vanish over the next decade unless the tax burden is eased.
Across Europe, countries like Germany and France support their beer and wine industries with far lower excise rates. Ireland, despite its globally famous pubs and drinks, continues to impose some of the steepest taxes in the region. Industry leaders argue that aligning Irish excise with EU norms could save thousands of pubs and protect communities that rely on them.
A 10% excise cut in October could mark the first step toward giving the Irish drinks industry and its pubs a fighting chance. Without action, the cost of a pint could continue to drive pubs off the map.
