Search
13 Jan 2026
Search
13 Jan 2026
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
Pat Crotty - CEO of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI)
Publicans have criticised a hike in the cost of Guinness, and other draught beers produced by Diageo, saying price rises are contributing to rural pub closures.
The price of a pint of Guinness will rise by 7c and Guinness 0.0 by 10c from February 2.
In a statement, The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) warned “the move will pile yet more pressure on pubs already struggling to survive”.
READ NEXT: Abbott Ireland submit plans for further expansion in Kilkenny
The organisation said: “Drink costs are the single biggest cost facing all publicans and this latest increase comes at a time when margins are already being eroded by rising labour costs, high energy prices and ongoing inflation across all areas of the business.
“For many pubs, there is simply no capacity left to absorb further supplier increases”.
The VFI said repeated supplier price increases are contributing to rural pub closures, along with declining footfall and rising operating costs.
READ NEXT: Green light to redevelop Kilkenny post office into restaurant/café
Diageo, the multinational company which produces Guinness, Hop House 13, Kilkenny and Tusker said: “Industry-wide cost pressures remain elevated for businesses and in order for Diageo to maintain sustainable operations in Ireland, we have advised our on-trade customers that there will be an increase to the list prices on our full draught product range.”
Kilkenny's Pat Crotty, CEO of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI), said: “Our members understand that suppliers also face rising costs, but there comes a point where pubs simply cannot keep carrying these increases alone.
“This isn’t just about the price of a pint, it’s about the long-term viability of pubs across the country.
READ NEXT: What you need to know as works on Waterford Road in Kilkenny ramp up
“Community pubs are being pushed to the brink, and continued increases in drink prices only accelerate that trend.”
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
