The Drinks Industry has launched a major national campaign ‘Support Your Local…’ to highlight the significant financial and social contribution made by the Irish drinks industry in Ireland. Currently the industry employs 92,000 people, buys €1.1 billion worth of Irish inputs, and offers a unique hospitality experience in Irish pubs that is renowned internationally.
Bart Storan, Campaign Manager, 'Support Your Local…' said, “This is an exceptional industry, with fantastic stories full of rich detail to tell. So when we say ‘Support Your Local’, we are talking about supporting your local farmer; supporting your local distillery; supporting your local pub, restaurant, hotel or independent off-licence; and supporting your local community.
“The campaign will be bringing the message about the positive role that the industry plays in Ireland around the country. We will be asking people to support an industry that is a proud part of our history – but which is also an exciting part of our future.”
Additionally, a new report by Tony Foley, Economist, DCU Business School entitled ‘Drinks Related Employment in Dail Constituencies’ was presented at the launch yesterday alongside details of a series of regional ‘Support Your Local…’ events. Foley said, “The national economic impact of the drinks industry is substantial. There are 8,298 public houses and other bars and almost 1,700 full off-licences. In addition to the large brewers and distillers there are 25 craft or micro-breweries and 15 new distilleries are being developed.
“Nationally, the drinks industry directly provides 63,000 full or part-time jobs with a wages bill of €885m and purchases over €1 billion of Irish produced agricultural, other materials and services inputs. These purchases support about 11,600 jobs. The direct and indirect employment total of 74,600 supports an additional 17,500 jobs. Overall, the drinks industry supports over 92,000 jobs.”
Events will be held in the run up to the local and European elections in a number of constituencies and www.SupportYourLocal.ie / https://twitter.com/supporturlocal will act as the online focal point of the campaign.
© 2014 - Checkout Magazine by Genna Patterson
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