Don’t raise drink prices, vintners urge suppliers

DRINK suppliers are being urged not to increase prices as speculation grows that a hike could be imposed as early as next month.

Publicans fear Diageo, the country’s largest drinks supplier, will announce a rise of as much as 7c on the price of a pint.

The Vintner’s Federation of Ireland, which represents over 6,000 publicans, has called for a price freeze this year, claiming bar owners will be forced to pass any increases on to customers.