VFI: Maintenance of alcohol excise 'will preserve jobs'

The President of the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI), Gerry Mellett, has welcomed the fact that alcohol escaped a rise in excise in today’s Budget.

Mr Mellet said: "The VFI welcomes the measures announced by Government today to maintain the current level of excise on alcohol products and also to reduce the air travel tax.

"When you take into account that our excise levels are top of the EU table for wine and second only to the UK and Sweden on beer and spirits respectively, an increase in excise on alcohol would have been a most unwelcome development.

"The introduction of the air travel tax was to raise funds but it may have actually stifled tourist numbers, with huge losses recorded in Shannon in particular.

"The VFI believe that measures announced today, relevant to the drinks and tourism industry, may go some way to preserving jobs in the hospitality sector."