Increases in the price of Guinness will trigger increases “onto everything across the board”, a publican has predicted.
Yesterday, Diageo announced that the cost of a pint of Guinness would rise by seven cents and the cost of Guinness 0.0 would increase by 10 cents.
On The Hard Shoulder, Donegal Vintners Federation Chairperson and Fine Gael Cllr Martin Harley said it was “terrible news” for the industry and pubgoers.
“Of course, all the other suppliers normally follow suit - that's the normal case,” he predicted.
“Unfortunately for our sector, there's been so many increases; the minimum wage went up there on the 1st of January, the autumn enrolment pension scheme, the energy costs really haven't come down in the last number of years.
“And of course, inflation across all the different sectors that we deal with as publicans has all increased over the last year.”
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Cllr Harley continued that while most publicans will initially absorb the cost, it will inevitably trickle down to consumers later on in the year.
“Well, I know from my own situation, we're €5.30 a pint of Guinness,” he said.
“I know that's a very reasonable price, but at the same time, you're trying to give a good service.
“You could be looking at 20 cents onto everything right across the board.
“That won't even keep the pubs at the same margin as they had last year.”
Main image: A barman pulling a pint. Picture by: Alamy.com.
