One in every three euro spent by Irish consumers on alcohol ends up in the Government's pocket.

High Irish alcohol tax

One in every three euro spent by Irish consumers on alcohol ends up in the Government's pocket.

The drinks industry says more than €2.2bn was paid in tax on alcoholic drinks in Ireland last year.

It says our excise duties on alcohol are among the highest in Europe - our beer tax is ten times that of Germany and seven times that of France.

Alcohol consumption peaked in Ireland in 2001, and has declined by over 5% since then.

But we are drinking more imported products. The consumption of domestically produced alcohol fell by 22% since 2000, while beverages produced abroad but consumed here rose by 90%.

The industry employs more than 62,000, but numbers have fallen over the past eight years.

More than half of pubs have sales of less than €200,000 a year.

Binge Drinking Costs Ireland $3 Billion a Year
Wednesday September 22, 2004
A new government report estimates that the fallout of binge drinking in Ireland -- health effects, drunk driving and alcohol-related crimes -- cost the country more than $3 billion in 2003.

The Strategic Task Force on Alcohol reported that the levels of binge drinking in Ireland are higher than any other European country. The report said each adult in Ireland on average spends about $2,400 a year on alcohol.

To combat the growing problem, the task force recommended higher taxes on alcohol, a limit of the number of outlets than can sell alcohol, and reducing alcohol advertising aimed at children, which protrays drinking as glamorous, fun and risk free.

Hundreds of people have been taking part in a demonstration outside the Dáil to call for the retention of late opening hours for nightclubs.

Under the proposals, premises with theatre licences which allow them to stay open until 3.30am would only be allowed open until 2.30am.

The protestors, who set up a DJ box in front of Leinster House, want Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern to introduce a new nightclub permit to replace it.

They argue that staggered opening hours is the best way to tackle public order problems.

Spokesman for the Give Us The Night campaign Sunil Sharpe said nightclubs should be viewed as a form of entertainment, and the issue of alcohol was very low on protestor's priorities.

Club promoter Al Keegan said the restrictions will make it more difficult to attract top class DJs to Dublin.

Mr Keegan said clubs only open at 11pm, and it was difficult to attract customers before midnight.