The €5 pint is coming — despite fears it will drive tourists away

THE Government last night warned brewers and publicans they will do serious damage to the tourism industry if they go ahead with a combined 15 cent hike in the price of a pint.

The increase is set to leave the cost of a pint heading close to the €5 mark in some Dublin pubs and could be in place as early as next week.

The main drinks industry player Diageo brewers of Guinness as well as a range of popular beers and lagers like Smithwicks, Harp, Carlsberg and Budweiser confirmed they will add 6 cents to a pint on Tuesday. And publicans are set to impose extra increases of their own to maintain profit margins which are thought to have been hit by the controversial introduction of a smoking ban in all Irish workplaces including bars two months ago.