Price of a pint to increase today
The price of a pint could increase by as much as eight cent from today.
Drinks firm Diageo has hiked the cost of its brands by four cent, and publicans are expected to add a similar mark-up.
Pints of draught Guinness, Smithwicks, Carlsberg, Budweiser and Harp will be affected.
The company is also expected to increase the price of Smirnoff Vodka and Baileys.
A Diageo spokesman said: "The 2.7% increase is necessary to offset the rising cost of raw materials and energy prices."
A Vintners Federation of Ireland spokesperson confirmed publicans will be adding similar mark-ups.
"The likelihood is that members will have no alternative but to pass the price increase on to the customer. The VFI doesn't know by how much as this is up to individual publicans."
According to CSO figures, the average price of a pint of Guinness was €3.72 at the end of 2006 but this climbs far higher in bars in major towns and cities.
Diageo, the world's biggest drinks group, reported a 3% drop in beer sales in Ireland for the second half of 2006.
The firm blamed the drop on people drinking at home and enjoying different tipples.
About 70% of the group's Irish sales in 2001 were in pubs, but that has fallen to 50% now.
