DUBLIN: Ireland has the highest taxes on wine and beer in the EU, a new report shows. Ireland’s beer levy is a whopping 1,000% higher than Germany’s. And apart from Finland, we have the most expensive excise duty on alcohol overall.
The report by Dublin City University economist Tony Foley, found that Ireland’s spirits excise is the third highest in the EU behind Finland and Sweden. Mr Foley said: “When compared with the rest of the EU, Ireland’s alcohol excise duty is very high across all drinks categories; only Finland ranks ahead of us. “Put another way, Ireland’s alcohol excise duty is 150% higher than 24 of the other 27 EU member states. “Combined with VAT and retail price, this means alcohol is comparatively more expensive in Ireland than it is in many other European countries.” Combined with VAT and retail price, it means Irish punters are paying through the nose for booze. The Drinks Industry Group of Ireland said Ireland’s pricey excise tax is “anti-competitive”. The lobby group’s spokeswoman Maggie Timoney explained: “The report shows definitively that Ireland’s excise duty rates are punitive and completely out of kilter with our European peers. “Ultimately, high levels of excise are a tax on a sector that contributes significantly to the Irish economy in terms of jobs and tourism, particularly in rural Ireland.”
