Report into drinks industry accused of being biased

A new report suggests that growth in the drinks industry could be worth €2bn and 13,000 extra jobs to the economy over the next 15 years.

The report, commissioned by the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland, claims that growth in alcohol exports could create thousands of jobs in rural Ireland.

The report has also criticised the high taxes for the industry with VAT and excise duty here the second highest in Europe.

However Conor Cullen from Alcohol Action Ireland has said that the report is biased and overlooks the health implications of an expanded drinks industry in Ireland.

“Alcohol misuse costs the State 3.7bn every year, but more importantly than that it claims three lives every day in Ireland,” Mr Cullen said.

“We have a national crisis on our hands with alcohol consumption and our harmful relationship with alcohol and alcohol also places a huge burden on our health services with 1500 hospital beds every single day taken up by people for alcohol related issues."