Government Facing Calls To Reduce VAT On Alcohol For 6 months

Drinks Industry Ireland and pub trade groups are calling for the VAT rate on drinks to be cut from 23 percent to nine percent for six months.

They say it would be a "targeted measure" - badly needed by the 60 per cent of pubs that still haven't opened up again, many of which are outside  Dublin.
Figures they’ve prepared say it would cost 143 million euro over six months.
Patricia Callan, director of Drinks Industry Ireland, says pubs are likely to see a 50% dropped in trade between now and Christmas.