Vintners defend right to increase drink prices

The Vintners Federation has defended the right of publicans to increase drinks prices after the expiry of the six-month alcohol price freeze at midnight tonight.

VFI President, Dick Dunne, said the issue had to be put in perspective because the licensed industry was the only trade which had been hit with such an order.

He added that since its imposition, publicans' costs had risen considerably, with extra trading hours and wages, as well as increases in the prices of light and heat.