The Last Word with Matt Cooper The Price Of A Pint In Ireland Is Set To Increase… Again
Jan 13, 2026
Pat Crotty, CEO of the Vintners Federation of Ireland, discusses the troubling trend of rising pint prices in Ireland. Following Diageo's recent announcement of a 7-cent increase, he expresses concern that pubs are absorbing rising costs from various fronts, including wages and supplies. Crotty predicts that the price hike could lead to an average increase of 20 cents at the bar, potentially affecting customers' drinking habits. He emphasizes the importance of pub survival for suppliers, urging alternatives to continual price increases.
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Pubs Reached A Financial Tipping Point
- Irish publicans have absorbed multiple rising costs for a year and cannot keep absorbing further increases indefinitely.
- Pat Crotty warns the beer price rise is the tipping point because beer is the single biggest cost for pubs.
Prepare For Price Pass-Through
- Expect publicans to pass supplier increases into consumer prices to remain viable.
- Monitor additional government-driven costs like wages, rates and water that make passing costs likely.
Small Supplier Hike Multiplies At The Bar
- A modest supplier increase (seven cent a pint) can cascade into much larger retail hikes once VAT/excise and margin are applied.
- Crotty estimates this could translate into roughly a 20 cent rise per pint for consumers.