Irish Distillers calls for reversal of excise duty rises

The outlook for the whiskey industry is “extremely concerning” due to the high excise duties levied against it which must be cut to ensure the sector’s future, it has been warned. 

Unlike the global market for sales of the spirit, the domestic market is continuing to suffer with a sales decline of 3.2% across the entire spirits industry here in the first six months of the year, according to Irish Distillers.

The Pernod Ricard subsidiary, which has responsibility for the Jameson brand, issued the warning as its parent company reported first-half sales above €8.5bn in the opening six months of the year with international Jameson sales behind much of the growth.