The multi-national drinks company, Diageo, which brews Guinness and other leading brands of beer, has indicated that a six-cent wholesale increase in the price of a pint will be introduced from 1 June.
When increased tax revenue and a possible further increase from publicans are added on, there is speculation that the overall rise in the price of the pint could be up to 15 cent.
Diageo says the increase was announced in March but had been deferred until June because of the implementation of the smoking ban on 29 March.
This morning, a spokesman for the company said that although it spent more on marketing in Ireland this year as a result of the smoking ban, the increase has nothing to do with its introduction.
He said rising costs of production and quality control were to blame, and he pointed out that the last increase in the price of a pint was imposed more than a year ago.
The increase will also affect Smithwicks, Harp, Carlsberg and Budweiser drinks.
