The Irish Brewers Association (IBA) has released its annual market report, revealing that direct employment in the beer industry has risen 8% since 2013, due to ongoing investment and new product innovation within the sector.
The Irish Beer Market 2014 Report adds that with Irish beer exports worth €228 million, the brewing industry also supports thousands of jobs in the development process of beer, from growing grains to packaging.
Other findings in the report include the fact that over 700 million litres of beer were produced in Ireland in 2014, and while export levels fell slightly, over 43% was sold to foreign markets. Beer accounts for 19% of all beverage exports from Ireland.
In the report, the IBA also calls on the Government to reduce excise on beer to better support the industry. Ireland has the highest excise on beer in the EU, with it being 11.4% higher than the rate in Germany.
Head of the IBA, Jonathan McDade commented; “In order to maintain the success story of the Irish beer market, the Government must reverse excise on alcohol in the next Budget.
“Beer was hit with a 42% excise increase over the past three years, making our beer excise the third highest in the EU.”
“In the UK, 26,000 jobs have been created since 2013, due to a cut in beer duty. The potential for Ireland’s brewing industry is massive if excise is reversed,” he concluded.
© 2015 - Checkout Magazine by Jenny Whelan.
