Whiskey, gin and vodka sales down.

MILLIONS of euro in tax and duty are being lost to the Exchequer as shoppers head to Northern Ireland to make savings of €5 a bottle on spirits, it emerged yesterday.

Sales of whiskey and other spirits have fallen by 21% so far this year as a result of the negative impact of the 42% increase in excise duty imposed by Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy in December’s Budget.

Ireland largest spirit maker, Irish Distillers, has already scaled back whiskey production to take account of the fall in sales, the company confirmed last night.