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CIGARETTES AND ALCOHOL are set to rise in price from midnight tonight after changes announced in this afternoon’s Budget.
The excise duty on a bottle of wine will increase by €1, while a pint of beer or cider will increase by 10 cent. A standard measure of spirits will also increase by 10 cents.
The price of a packet of 20 cigarettes will increase by 10 cents while roll-your-own tobacco will increase by 50 cents per packet.
The increases were criticised by a number of groups.
The Irish Heart Foundation condemned what it called a ‘paltry’ tax increase on cigarettes, saying the 10 cent increase will do nothing for the health of the Irish nation and will serve only to raise extra revenue for the Exchequer.
The IHF said the cigarette industry would now raise prices, “effectively transferring money from the Exchequer to their own profits”.
The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland said the unexpected announcement about excise on alcohol was “jobs negative” and a “massive disappointment”.
The group said that the move would make it more difficult for pubs to survive.
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So €7k of cocaine and €6.5k of cannabis found. Not exactly jaw dropping amounts for a 100 gardai and even more customs officers involved. I thought the Garda were lacking resources? Doesn’t seem so here, more like overkill .
@Brian Smith: Well Said
Couple of oz of weed.
No biggie in any other country.
@Brian Smith: When marijuana eventually is legalised wait until you see who gets the licences to sell it, friends of those in high places ! Joking aside, it will free up Garda resources and become a revenue stream for the state. Its only a matter of time.
Free the weed.
100 Gardai to seize, what is in an overall sense, a small quantity of drugs. No doubt there is diligent work going on etc, but we have to start asking ourselves what is the point in it all? Nothing is being stopped for such a huge investment of resources, and we are continuing to leave the safety of our people who use in the hands of those looking to make a quick buck.
That’s definitely over €6,500 worth of cannabis in that picture. Only needed 100 gardaí to seize it, too. Money well spent, lads.
100 Gardai to seize that?? Ffs. What a waste of resources
Stop wasting my tax money.
@Michael Grogan: Great comment. Try saying that to people affected by recent events/ tragedies in Foxrock, Athy, Laytown, just to mention a few- in a matter of days..???
@Margate: It takes 100 Gardai to take €13,000 worth of drugs of the street. I’ll say it again. Stop wasting my tax money.
They should’ve used some of those 100 Garda on speed checks on motorways and roads where no pedestrians/ houses or accidents ever happen. Much better use of resources, and make sure they get lots of overtime as well!!!!!
Complete waste of Gardaí resources!
Legalise, regulate, tax!
Gardai only enforce the law, and well done to them as far as I am concerned, good job
What a waste of time and resources. 100 people involved in a small bust. The cost of paying their overtime is probably triple the amount they actually found.
Great, now put them away for a 5 year suspended sentence
@Alan Wallace: i enjoyed that. very good read. thumbs up
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