Drinkers will have to fork out at least 25c more for a pint in a move publicans described as a “kick in the balls”.
Heineken announced it was facing “unprecedented cost increases” and all draught kegs would go up on December 1. The Dutch brewing giant’s portfolio includes Heineken, Birra Moretti, Orchard Thieves cider, Coors, Fosters, Beamish, Murphy’s and Island’s Edge.
In a letter seen by the Irish Mirror, pubs were told: “Keg prices for Heineken and Coors lager will increase, equivalent to 17c per pint and at a pro-rata rate for all other draught brands and keg sizes.” But pub bosses reckon they’ll need to up pint prices by at least 25c once VAT is added on.
Read more: Dublin pubs revolt as Heineken hike prices during cost of living crisis
A pint of lager costs an average of €5.55, according to the CSO’s most recent Consumer Price Index, meaning the price of a pint is nearing closer to the €6 mark. Heineken claimed the hike “was essential”.
But Dublin bar Darkey Kelly’s publican Nathy Towey has already removed his Birra Moretti and Island’s Edge taps and could take out more if they don’t roll back on their plans. He said: “We try and offer value to our customers. We put on music seven nights a week.
“We’ve no cover charge. We try to charge a fair price for our pint but this is too much in one go.
“It will put people off. They’ll come out at Christmas time but come the New Year, when people are looking at their bank account, the night out is what will be put to one side.
“We have six Heineken products and we’re starting by removing two of them – and I imagine a lot of pubs around the city will be doing the same. But if they don’t reverse this decision, you could see their heavy hitters such as Heineken and Coors up for debate as well.
“We know everybody’s business costs have gone up but this is just too much of an increase in one go.
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“The size of the increase definitely came out of the blue. You’d expect a 5c increase but not this. I can’t ask customers to pay another 25c for a pint. Pubs have absorbed rising costs over the last six months.
"We have a lot of locals and their own personal bills at home would have gone up such as food, electricity, and gas so asking lads to pay an extra 25c or 35c for a pint won’t wash well.”
Former chairman of the Licensed Vintners Association Noel Anderson took to Twitter and blasted the move.
He said: “Huge kick in the balls this morning one of our major breweries has just put a simply massive price increase on. This madness has to stop. Calls will go in to reverse it but this is simply insane.”
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Vintners’ Federation of Ireland President Paul Clancy called it “particularly poor timing”. He said: “These price increases are the last thing publicans or customers need.
“The energy crisis has resulted in many pubs having to curtail their opening times to save money while other costs such as insurance and Sky Sports make it extremely difficult for publicans to even break even. Pub customers are going through their own cost-of-living crisis and we know members are desperately unhappy about having to pass on this increase.”
It comes as Grainger’s Hanlon’s Corner on Dublin’s North Circular Road said they weren’t upping their prices right now and said they were worried about the “pub trade”.
Boss Richard Grainger added: “We can’t keep putting up our prices and making the consumers pay it, because they have bills as well.
“People aren’t able to survive. Everything is going up, our energy bill is three times what it should be. The pinch will be felt after December.
“Most of our regulars who come into the pub would be retired and they said if the pint goes up another 20c or 30c, they just won’t be able to afford it. There’s no way in hell I could up the prices.
“We’d lose all our customers, it’s not fair on them.
“Unfortunately, we’re going to have to swallow these price hikes. We can’t pass them on to the customer because they’re not going to pay it. People just don’t have the money anymore.”
In a statement, Heineken Ireland said: “Due to significant increases in the cost of energy, packaging, and raw materials, Heineken Ireland is left with no choice but to amend its pricing in the Irish on-trade market.
“As a result, we have written to our on-trade customers to advise them of a 9% increase in wholesale draught prices to reflect the current cost.
“Heineken sets the wholesale price that is charged for its products but has no role in relation to the price paid by the consumer, as this is set by individual operators within the on-trade sector.”
The Irish Mirror contacted Guinness owners to see if they planned on increasing prices too but they did not respond.
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