- Germany and Spain apply excise duties of €0.05 on a pint of beer compared to €0.55 in Ireland.
- Spain applies €2.69 excise on a 70cl bottle of whiskey compared to €11.92 in Ireland.
- 14 European countries charge no excise on wine.
- France charges €0.01 excise on a glass of wine.
- The drinks industry has called for a 10pc excise cut in the Budget.
Germany and Spain apply significantly lower alcohol excise duties than Ireland, according to data from Dublin City University economist Anthony Foley. A pint of beer purchased in a pub in Ireland attracts an excise duty of €0.55 compared to just €0.05 in Spain and Germany. A 70cl bottle of whiskey is levied with €11.92 excise in Ireland, compared to €2.69 of excise duty in Spain and €3.65 in Germany.
A total of 14 European countries do not charge any excise on wine, including Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany and Greece, while France charges just €0.01 on a standard glass of wine. In Ireland, excise duties make up €3.19 of the €11 cost of a standard bottle of wine purchased in an off-licence. The research was commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland.
The high tax rates create a significant burden for local businesses and consumers. The drinks industry has called for an immediate 10pc cut in excise duty in the upcoming Government Budget, arguing that taxes do not match modern habits.
