Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

This is the second year-in-a-row that no new measures were introduced. Alamy Stock Photo

Alcohol Action express disappointment as no new measures for booze announced in Budget 2024

Alcohol Action Ireland and the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland have both express disappointment – for different reasons.

NO NEW MEASURES have been announced on alcohol, beit to reduce or increase excise duties, in this year’s budget.

Alcohol Action Ireland, a charity and advocacy group to reduce harm caused by alcohol, and the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland, who represent the alcohol industry, have both expressed disappointment that no new measures were announced – for different reasons.

The lack of “urgent action” to address alcohol harm was highlighted by the charity group, who had said none of their pre-budget submissions were taken on board by the government.

A ‘polluter pays’ model of alcohol taxation, the establishment of an Alcohol Harm Reduction office and increased funding for treatment services were a few of the submissions that Alcohol Action proposed.

Separately, Chair of the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI), Kathryn D’Arcy said this year’s budget “failed to grasp” the impact VAT increases and excise duties have on the industry.

D’Arcy said the group had put forwarded a “costed, stepped plan” to reduce excise rates over the next two years, which would prioritise the business and employment in the sector.

Budget 2024 is a missed opportunity,”

“We need to collectively refocus on how we approach excise rates, particularly given the competitive advantage European countries enjoy and what this means for the tourism and hospitality sector,” D’Arcy added.

However, despite the high rates of excise, CEO of Alcohol Action Sheila Gilheany suggested that a further increase would help address the 1,500 of alcohol-related deaths that happen in Ireland each year.

“Today the Minister for Finance rightly used a public health imperative to further tax tobacco products, it is deeply disappointing that no such parity applies when it comes to alcohol and public health,” Gilheany said.

This year, Dieago – the owners of Guinness – increased the price of a pint by 16 cents in two seperate increases, one in February and another in July.

There has also been an average of 152 pub closures a year since 2019, according to DIGI.

This is the second year-in-a-row that no new measures were introduced by the Department of Finance however new legislation on health labelling for alcohol products was brought into law by the Department of Health earlier in the year.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
23 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute P. V. Aglue
    Favourite P. V. Aglue
    Report
    Oct 10th 2023, 9:27 PM

    The pubs are implementing measures themselves by putting the prices up every 3 months.

    359
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Newell
    Favourite Tom Newell
    Report
    Oct 10th 2023, 9:36 PM

    Maybe all these ban it all groups can put more money towards the welfare when people in hospitality lose their jobs cos locals and tourists wont go near pubs. Its like the muppets calling for the sugar tax and claiming victory and turns out the tax from that the HSE have no clue what its being used for cos it was never ringfenced for anything….How about less government funded quangos and save the taxpayers a heap of money

    253
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ate “8 Waved Sun” Waved Sun
    Favourite Ate “8 Waved Sun” Waved Sun
    Report
    Oct 10th 2023, 11:41 PM

    They have already force us to drink in our homes because the pubs are too expensive.

    186
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nestor
    Favourite Nestor
    Report
    Oct 11th 2023, 12:30 AM

    “A ‘polluter pays’ model of alcohol taxation, the establishment of an Alcohol Harm Reduction office and increased funding for treatment services were a few of the submissions that Alcohol Action proposed.”

    Thank goodness the Government has ignored these people.

    We have the highest alcohol prices in Europe already!

    147
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Donal Desmond
    Favourite Donal Desmond
    Report
    Oct 11th 2023, 12:58 AM

    The last time FFG/ Greens were concerned about our drinking habits the increased the prices in off licences. Such was the government concern they allowed the off licences owners to keep the increase. The increase did not go to services that deal with alcohol related problems, but to increase the profits of Supermarkets and off licences..Hypocrisy at it’s best.

    116
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute P.J. Nolan
    Favourite P.J. Nolan
    Report
    Oct 10th 2023, 9:45 PM

    Hasn’t been a government in history that jacked up the price of a pint just before an election! (and survived)

    76
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute F Fitzgerald
    Favourite F Fitzgerald
    Report
    Oct 10th 2023, 9:57 PM

    @P.J. Nolan: I wonder. Times have changed. Not as many people drink now either. They’d very likely get away with alcohol VAT increases.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute K P
    Favourite K P
    Report
    Oct 10th 2023, 10:00 PM

    @F Fitzgerald: doubtful

    56
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Finch
    Favourite Chris Finch
    Report
    Oct 10th 2023, 10:10 PM

    @F Fitzgerald: cloud cuckoo land springs to mind here

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pat Collins
    Favourite Pat Collins
    Report
    Oct 11th 2023, 8:25 AM

    In Spain last month one could purchase glorious Amber nectar for two euro for a complete pint and sit in blazing sunshine.

    70
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Noelyj
    Favourite Noelyj
    Report
    Oct 11th 2023, 11:02 AM

    @Pat Collins: I haven’t drank alcohol in 15 years. Last week at a party I paid €5.30 for a pint of non-alcoholic beer. Why would I want to go to a pub?

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SerotoninWars
    Favourite SerotoninWars
    Report
    Oct 11th 2023, 9:46 AM

    The problem here is that they don’t seem to understand just how far an alcoholic will go to get alcohol. We’ve already had situations where hospitals had to change what was coming out of their hand wash dispensers. The price is already prohibitively high. What’s next full on prohibition? Can you imagine the amount of bootleg booze in a country like this?!

    It’s sad that it destroys lives but you are never going to catch everybody and at some point you need to think about other people in the alcoholics life. Is this really making them cut down on booze or is there simply even less money for children at home for example. If money was the driving factor we’d have no heroin or cocaine addicts.

    52
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Kelly
    Favourite Joe Kelly
    Report
    Oct 11th 2023, 2:46 PM

    @SerotoninWars: I am 42 yrs off the drink,you can take it from me they don’t ha ve a clue what they are talking about. I would have sold my family to get money for drink. Price increases don’t stop alcoholics from drinking

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nestor
    Favourite Nestor
    Report
    Oct 11th 2023, 1:45 AM

    The problem with funding Organisations such as Alcohol Action Ireland is that the Government feels the need to pay attention to their ridiculous recommendations.

    The solution: stop funding idiotic organisations such as ‘Alcohol Action Ireland”!

    115
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute
    Favourite
    Report
    Oct 11th 2023, 6:54 AM

    Budget only gave folk on the d0le the price of 6 cans a week & this AA crew want to snatch that luxury away.. smh

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute
    Favourite
    Report
    Oct 11th 2023, 8:00 PM

    I have stopped going to the pub two months ago as 6 quid for a pint is a rip off. My pal and I now run our own little bar in his basement. Also, it’s clear that higher prices do not deter people from drinking. It just means tgat kids with parents who drink will suffer even more as money for clothes and food will be scarce.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ivan Dickson
    Favourite Ivan Dickson
    Report
    Oct 11th 2023, 3:38 PM

    Fup the do- gooders!

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Kennedy
    Favourite Alan Kennedy
    Report
    Oct 11th 2023, 11:12 AM

    Due to the government’s inability to reduce the price of a pint, and after careful consideration taking in to account the increase in the social welfare and after a meeting with my accountant, I am hereby reducing my intake of alcohol by abstaining on the first Tuesday of every month! Starting 2036

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Setanta O'Toole
    Favourite Setanta O'Toole
    Report
    Oct 11th 2023, 1:25 PM

    We’re just trying to have a good time, narc.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot O Brien
    Favourite Dermot O Brien
    Report
    Oct 13th 2023, 1:46 PM

    Also remember the first thing they did after the Pandemic was to introduce the MUP increase which has nearly doubled the price of Drink in off licences and shops, this will hasn’t made any difference to chronic alcoholics who it was aimed but penalises the casual drinker, AA group will never be happy

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bennett blaster
    Favourite Bennett blaster
    Report
    Oct 12th 2023, 3:39 PM

    The same group that cheered on shrinkflation in smaller cans at lower alcohol, or price increases in regular sized cans which went straight into the retailers till. Pity that money didn’t go into education or rehab programs. Shameful

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute
    Favourite
    Report
    Oct 13th 2023, 10:48 AM

    @Bennett blaster: I work in a “dry” country. Apple/Grape juice, sugar, water, teaspoon of yeast, wait a month. Mix it with 7up and ice. No excise duty on that.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ann owens
    Favourite Ann owens
    Report
    Oct 15th 2023, 4:47 PM

    I’m sick and tired of these organisations getting so powerful they want a totally nanny state. A small percentage of people drink too much but yet we all have to pay one of the highest costing wine in EU for example. Are they trying to justify their large CEOs salary ? Volunteers. Keep your nose out Zealots

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds