Irish Wine group calls for drop in excise duty

The Government is being asked to reverse excise duty on wine in budget 2015.

The Irish Wine Association says tax on the drink here is the highest in Europe and led to an 8 percent drop in sales last year.

The group's Chairman Michael Foley says the government is overlooking the fact that the industry is a major employer:

"Wine is an industry that counts for over 1,100 jobs directly, as well as supporting jobs in the 13,000 pubs, restaurants and off licences around the country, and it's critical to protect those jobs that wine is treated fairly, and the disproportionate excise increases are reversed."

In last year's Budget, the excise duty was increased by 15%, meaning that on an €8 bottle of wine, 60% went to the Exchequer.