Government urged to reverse tax increases on alcohol

Alcohol market continues to decline, writes Seán McCárthaigh

THE drinks industry has called on the Government to reverse large tax increases on alcohol introduced in last December’s budget amid warnings that pubs and independent off-licences are in crisis.

It comes as an annual report on the performance of the drinks market published by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) shows overall alcohol consumption fell by 0.5% in 2012.