Government 'not doing enough for pubs', say vintners

The Vintners Federation says the Government is not doing enough to help the pubs industry.

The group, which represent 4,200 publicans, is holding its annual conference in Kerry today.

CEO of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland Padraig Cribben expects the overall mood at the event to be a positive one, as publicans begin to feel the effects of the recovery.

However, he said excise duty needed to be reduced.

"We have almost the highest level of excise in Europe," he said. "The excise on a pint of beer is 10 times here what it is in Spain or Portugal. They have no excise on wine. The combined excise and VAT on a bottle of wine can be well over €4."