Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI), the national independent advocate for reducing alcohol harm, is disappointed by the government’s decision not to increase excise duties on alcohol in today’s budget, which is compounded by the misguided decision to give away €15 million to publicans. This budget is the 13^th year in succession that duties have not been touched, so their public health value continues to be eroded by inflation and are now at least 15% lower in real terms.

With excise duties on tobacco rising by a substantial €1 on a pack of cigarettes, it is clear the government understands the value of price controls as a policy option to change consumer behaviour and promote public health. AAI therefore finds it disappointing that government refuses to increase alcohol excise duties, which would have the dual benefit of helping reduce population-level consumption and its associated harms, while at the same time raising much needed revenue to help cover the cost of cleaning up the mess alcohol causes....

[Read full statement on the AAI website]