Irish sales down as drinkers head north
Drinks sales in Ireland have taken a big hit as consumers head north to take advantage of cheaper prices in Ulster.
Drinks sales in Ireland have taken a big hit as consumers head north to take advantage of cheaper prices in Ulster.
Alcohol sales fell by 13% in the first quarter of 2009, compared to the same period a year ago, according to data from the Revenue Commissioners.
The sharpest decline was in spirits, where sales slumped by 19.1%. Beer sales were down 12.4%, cider by 12% and wine by 10.6%.
The Drinks Industry Group of Ireland warned that the industry faced major job losses, especially around border areas.
The weakness of the pound against the euro has encouraged Irish consumers to cross into Ulster for their drinks purchases, where they can also take advantage of lower rates of duty and VAT.
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