This month, alcohol awareness advocates called for the government to leave excise duty alone, warning that any reduction in the upcoming Budget would result in increased consumption and add to the country’s problems with alcohol.
CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland, Suzanne Costello, said cutting the duty would make “no sense for the physical, mental or financial health of the nation”. Last year, when there was an increase in excise duty on all alcohol products, consumption fell by 9.5% and excise receipts increased by almost €150 million.
In a recent parliamentary question, TD Seán Kenny asked the estimated cost to the Exchequer of reducing excise duty on a pint of beer by 5 cents. Finance Minister Michael Noonan said this would also reduce VAT by 1.15 cent and the estimated cost to the Exchequer of the total reduction of 6.15 cents would be €41 million.
Source: Michelle Hennessy, thejournal.ie, 29/09/14
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