Sales of draught beer and cider have fallen by 11.5% in the first four months of this year in pubs, according to figures from the Irish Brewers' Association.
The statistics come as a number of leading brands have announced price increases in recent days. The biggest fall in draught sales has happened in Dublin, where turnover is down almost 15%.
Despite the decline, in the past few days some major drink producers have confirmed they are increasing prices by four cent per pint to the pubs. They said they had do so because of higher costs.
The price of Heineken, Guinness, Smithwicks, Carlsberg, Harp, Budweiser and Bulmers will all rise. It is expected the pubs will add a further four cent and two cent will go in VAT, meaning a total increase of 10 cent.
Today Beamish & Crawford, which produces of Miller, Fosters, Beamish and Kronenbourg, said it was freezing prices for the rest of the year in the light of falling sales. Chief executive Alf Smiddy today said the price of a pint was becoming too expensive for consumers.
