Benny McCabe: Hike in the price of a pint unfairly hits publicans and their customers 

Cork publican Benny McCabe writes that traditional Irish pubs are the guardians of a tradition and they and their customers keep getting walloped while big suppliers enjoy a taxpayer-funded subsidy

Publican Benny McCabe at The Pav on Carey's Lane in Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

The recent announcement that the price of certain pints are to increase in February vexes me, both as a publican and a punter.

Publicans, particularly in rural areas and small towns, have the choice of putting up prices and hoping they don’t lose customers, or maintain prices and bleed out slowly.