Drink prices set to be frozen for rest of year
Publicans are responding positively to an appeal to freeze drink prices until the end of the year.
The Vintners Federation say they will agree to the call from Consumer Affairs Minister Tom Kitt, if the Government agrees not to put up local authority charges that affect pub owners.
Minister Kitt and the Vintners Federation have spent most of the day issuing statements about the price of alcohol.
This morning, at their annual conference in Westport, the Vintners called on the Government to reduce excise duty on drink, claiming that Ireland has one of the highest rates in Europe.
This was followed by a call for a price freeze on drink until the end of the year from Minister Kitt to the publicans.
Now this evening, the Vintners Federation have responded by saying they will agree to a price freeze on condition that the Government ensure that charges affecting publicans overheads remain static - these would be costs like local authority fees and wages.
In a statement, the Vintners Federation - which represents 6,000 publicans outside Dublin - said it was conscious of Minister Kitt's concern in relation to the price of drink in some pubs and hotels, especially in the capital.
