Budget 2025

Speaking following Budget 2025, Drinks Ireland Director Cormac Healy said;
 
Alcohol consumption in this country is down by over 30% in the last twenty years and continues to fall. Excise levels on drinks are amongst the highest in Europe. 
 
While we have sought a process of aligning our excise levels with EU averages, the announcement by the Minister of no increase in general levels of excise on alcohol products is some relief to brewers, distillers and drinks manufacturers around the country, as well as hospitality businesses who are facing difficult trading conditions . 
 
We welcome the extension of excise relief introduced last year for independent small producers of cider and perry to those producers of other fermented beverages and to small producers of higher strength ciders. These measures can prove vital in encouraging the growth of such businesses in towns and villages across Ireland, while increasing innovation and diversity in the category.