Independent Craft Brewers of Ireland Call On Government to Retain Excise Relief
The Independent Craft Brewers of Ireland (ICBI), representing 34 small independent craft breweries, have asked Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe TD, to maintain the current 50% excise relief on Alcohol Products Tax, which is applicable to microbreweries, in advance of his Budget 2020 plans. The ICBI have just submitted their pre-budget submission to the Department of Finance.
The centrepiece of their pre-budget submission highlights and encourages the Minister to retain the existing excise relief in the forthcoming budget. The ICBI report stresses the importance of this excise relief to the independent craft brewing sector. The independent craft brewers operate in a very difficult market place, dominated by multinational and global brands which enjoy a very strong market share (97%), with the artisan brewers operating from the remaining margin.
The ICBI pre-budget submission emphasises the challenges the independent craft brewing sector faces today and how the excise relief is essential for the survival and growth of the independent microbreweries across the island of Ireland.
Peter Mosley, Chairman of the ICBI, said: “Every member of our association is currently developing its own small-scale artisan brewery for growth and development. Many of our members are small breweries located in very rural locations and enjoy great support from their local and very loyal community by creating direct employment and tourism in the region. Sadly, many of our members are battling to survive. All of our artisan producers are dependent on the support from this excise relief.”
Barbara-Anne from Bridewell Brewery, an ICBI member, said: “The lack of resources available for us in the microbrewing sector is making it hard to successfully market a separate brand identity for craft beer. We rely on this relief to maintain some small chance of being able to compete with the constantly increasing competition and some major foreign brands.”
CAPTION:
Pictured left to right: Peter Mosley (Porterhouse), Barbara-Anne (Bridewell), Wim De Jongh (Hope).
