I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the revenue the Exchequer received from excise duties on beer, wine, spirits and cider in each year from 1997 to 2008 is set out in the following table. The figures provided in relation to 2008 are provisional at this juncture.
|
Beer
|
Spirits
|
Wine
|
Cider
|
Total
|
|
€ m
|
€ m
|
€ m
|
€ m
|
€ m
|
1997
|
449.3
|
183.0
|
83.0
|
20.4
|
735.7
|
1998
|
464.3
|
187.5
|
96.1
|
24.4
|
772.2
|
1999
|
477.1
|
218.0
|
111.3
|
28.7
|
835.0
|
2000
|
475.9
|
247.1
|
123.8
|
33.3
|
880.2
|
2001
|
435.6
|
220.9
|
120.9
|
36.1
|
813.6
|
2002
|
477.4
|
266.5
|
152.2
|
62.1
|
958.1
|
2003
|
455.4
|
305.0
|
167.8
|
60.4
|
988.6
|
2004
|
458.2
|
314.9
|
184.8
|
64.2
|
1,022.1
|
2005
|
457.3
|
319.8
|
195.1
|
66.1
|
1,038.3
|
2006
|
460.7
|
338.0
|
209.2
|
69.2
|
1,077.1
|
2007
|
464.8
|
367.6
|
230.2
|
68.3
|
1,130.9
|
2008 (prov)
|
427.1
|
350.9
|
231.3
|
60.6
|
1,070.0
|
Ireland has had a long standing policy, for sound health and social reasons, of applying high excise rates to alcohol products. Consequently, Ireland has the highest excise rate on wine in the European Community, and the second highest in the case of beer and spirits. Nevertheless it should be noted that excise duty has not been increased on beer since Budget 1994, on cider since Budget 2002 and on spirits since Budget 2003. Excise duty on wine was increased in Budget 2009 by 50 cent per standard bottle, having remained unchanged since Budget 1994. The overall decline in excise yields in 2008 reflects the general slowdown in economic activity.