Strong sales of premium brands, such as Jameson whiskey, in Asia and America boosted wine and spirits sales of Pernod Ricard to €3.4bn last year, up 2.1% over 2003.

THE price of an average family saloon car is €22,000 — €13,636 for the car and €8,364 in excise duty and VAT for the Exchequer.

Drinks giant Pernod Ricard has announced that sales of Jameson whiskey rose by 11%, in the first nine months of the year.

The Combined General Meeting of Pernod Ricard in Paris today approved the 2003 financial statements and decided on a dividend distribution of € 1.96 per share, an increase of 8.9%.

PERNOD Ricard believe sales of Jameson Irish whiskey will double to three million cases in the short term and plan to take on Sminoff-Ice in the ready-to-go drinks market with a new product - Jameson Chill.