Sales of Guinness in Ireland down 6%

US President Barack Obama’s endorsement of the “black stuff” failed to deliver a lift to Guinness in Ireland as sales fell 6% this year.

Drinks giant Diageo, the world’s biggest spirits group, said high levels of unemployment and personal tax increases in Ireland continued to restrict consumer spending, particularly in the on-trade.

There were fears yesterday that the company could cut more costs in Ireland, with Andrew Morgan, European president of Diageo, saying that the company will continue to look for ways to become more efficient as a business and “be around for a very long time”.