Drinks industry is a government 'cash cow' but Irish brewers need a 'level playing field'

Despite the Irish drinks industry being financially lucrative, smaller Irish brewers struggle for space at events beside large multinational brands

A new ‘partnership agreement’ means that Heineken Ireland brands such as Heineken, Heineken 0.0, Birra Moretti, Orchard Thieves, Beamish, Murphy’s, and the SERVED range of pre-mixed cocktails will be available at Aiken and POD events such as Live at the Marquee in Cork, the All Together Now festival, and the Boucher Road concert series in Belfast. File picture

Grain growers are calling for government scrutiny of festival and concert exclusivity deals that they say disadvantage Irish microbreweries.

Former IGGG chairman Bobby Miller said the sector delivers exceptional returns to the State, describing it as “a huge revenue stream for the government.”