DIGI group urges reduction in alcohol excise in Budget 2017
The pre-budget submission by Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) has urged the government to "take control" of areas that can support economic growth in the wake of the Brexit vote, including alcohol excise.
Print25 July 2016
In its submission ahead of Budget 2017 later this year, DIGI, the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland, has encouraged the government to take control of “domestic determinant” that can support economic growth and enterprise development in the wake of the recent Brexit referendum. A major one of these areas is excise duty on alcohol.
DIGI, which represents drinks suppliers, pubs, hotels, independent off-licenses and restaurants across Ireland, is calling for a 15% reduction in excise on alcohol in the next Budget.
DIGI claims that excise is a tax on tourism. In 2015, 3.5m British tourists visited Ireland, generating more than €1bn in revenue. Meanwhile, Q1 2016 has seen an increase of 18% in British spending; DIGI sees this comparitive increase as a very strong case for reduction of alcohol excise.
The group says that every possible effort should be made to compensate for the negative effects of the Brexit result, such as exchange rate uncertainty, the potential impact of a new border and more.
“An alcohol excise redution is a vital response to the new and immediate effect of the uncertainty caused by Brexit,” said Maggie Timoney, DIGI chairperson and managing director of Heineken Ireland. “Excise increases are detrimental to the Irish drinks and hospitality industry and the 200,000 jobs it supports.”
Related Articles
Food Drink Ireland: Substantial Brexit funding needed in Budget 2022 →
Fans 0
Followers