‘Taste the Island’ Food & Drink Events Revealed

Fáilte Ireland launch Taste the Island Programme Details of the Taste the Island Details programme, which includes more than 600 food and drink-related events and experiences across the country, along with a new all-island marketing campaign, have been revealed by Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority, with the support of Irish TV Presenter Angela […]

Shocking CCTV footage reveals extent of personal injury threat to small businesses

Dramatic CCTV footage from a pub in Newbridge reveals the extent of the threat facing small businesses as they battle soaring insurance premiums and massive compensation claims. The footage shows a person taking glass from beneath her top then placing it in her mouth before pretending to choke. She then tells bar staff the glass […]

Pubs offer positive contribution to our towns and villages, says VFI

  The VFI has strongly rejected the portrayal of pubs in a recent Irish Times article measuring the health of Ireland’s main streets, where pubs were categorised as having a negative impact on towns and villages. Outlets received a positive or negative score depending on what they contributed to a town, so pharmacies would achieve […]

Patrons With Medical Conditions

Call for increased awareness of patrons with medical conditions presenting as drunkenness The following article has been taken from the latest VFI Voice magazine.  Recent newspaper reports have highlighted the importance of publicans being aware of medical conditions that can present as drunkenness. There are many medical conditions that present as apparent drunkenness. According to […]

Ireland’s Insurance Crisis – The Facts

The Alliance for Insurance Reform has launched an infographic summarising key facts about the Irish insurance industry. Commenting on the publication, Linda Murray, director of the Alliance and owner of Huckleberry’s Den play centre in Navan said “one of the most frustrating things about the insurance industry is the lack of reliable, impartial information. The […]

Taste the Island from Fáilte Ireland

A new Fáilte Ireland campaign called Taste the Island is a huge opportunity for publicans to become part of a major initiative to promote Ireland’s food and drink culture. The campaign will include a bespoke pub programme along with food and drink trails and events. There will be supports available for participating businesses as well […]

VFI anger at lack of government support for rural communities

The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland has today (Tuesday 14th May) strongly criticised government for abandoning rural communities in the wake of changes to drink-driving legislation introduced last October. Given the lack of clarity about when it’s safe to drive, which has induced fear in local communities, the VFI says urgent action is required to implement […]

Irish Pub Awards 2019 Launch

VFI and LVA launch Irish Pub Awards 2019 The Irish Pub Awards 2019 were launched in Dublin today, Wednesday 24th April 2019 at The Bankers Bar, Trinity Street, Dublin 2.  The Irish Pubs Awards are jointly presented by Licenced Vintners Association (LVA) and Vintners’ Federation Ireland (VFI).  Entries open from today, judging will take place […]

Irish Pub Awards Returns Bigger & Better for 2019

Pictured (l-r) Damien Smyth, Musgrave MarketPlace; Ciaran Budds, Molson Coors; Leona Campbell, The Bankers Bar; Padraic McGann, VFI President; Alan Campbell, LVA Chairman; Ross Bissett, C&C Gleeson; Shane Barry, Diageo Ireland; Michael Dooley, Molson Coors. Pictured (l-r): Alan Campbell, LVA Chairman, Leona Campbell, The Bankers Bar and Padraic McGann, VFI President. Pictured at The Bankers […]

Consumers love for spirits continues to grow

Consumers have a clear growing taste for spirits, according to a new report published by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) Sales for spirits continue to rise and made up a 20.5 percent share of the alcohol product market in 2018, a 5.6 percent increase compared to the previous year. Wine was the only […]

Action needed to end crippling insurance costs

Alliance for Insurance Reform presents priorities for meaningful insurance reform to Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach. The Alliance for Insurance Reform (AIR) will appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach today Thursday April 4th. Alliance directors Linda Murray and Peter Boland will appear before […]

Proposed Garda Insurance Fraud Unit Making No Progress

Frustration for the Alliance for Insurance Reform as two years on still no progress made on proposed Garda Fraud Unit   Hard-pressed insurance policyholders have reacted with intense frustration to the confirmation during yesterday’s 2-hour long debate on insurance in the Dáil, that plans to establish a long-proposed Garda Insurance Fraud Unit have made no progress. […]

Beer is Ireland’s most popular drink

New report by Drinks Industry Group of Ireland shows beer is Ireland’s most consumed drink while alcohol consumption levels decline by almost 25% in less than two decades.   Average alcohol consumption almost unchanged in 2018 compared to 2017, according to report by DCU economist Anthony Foley 2018 average adult alcohol consumption is lower than […]

Cork VFI Call For Movement On Cork Events Centre

VFI members in Cork are calling for action to be taken on the development of the long awaited Cork Events Centre.   The Cork Vintners’ have joined forces with The Cork Business Association (CBA), Irish Hotels Federation Cork (IHF)  & Restaurant Association Cork (RAI) to call for call for ‘certainty, accountability and meaningful communication’ on the development […]

VFI launches ‘morning after’ information campaign

The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) has today (Wednesday 20th February) launched a public awareness campaign about driving safely the morning after a night out. The Federation, supported by Drinkaware, wants to arm people with the facts so they can make an informed decision about when it’s safe to drive. The social media campaign is […]

Donegal VFI honour Brennan sisters at annual dinner

There was a night of celebration at the recent Donegal VFI dinner dance as Patricia Brennan and her late sister Nan, of Brennan’s Criterion Bar in Bundoran, were honoured by the county VFI for their long service to the pub trade in the town. Martin Gibbons, Chair of Donegal VFI, welcomed the acknowledgement saying “Patricia […]

‘Ruxi’ proposal a viable solution to rural isolation

The Uber-style taxi service ‘Ruxi’ aims to help tackle rural isolation in many rural communities   The VFI are urging government to support the implementation of a rural taxi service that would help alleviate isolation and encourage social cohesion. Minister for State Jim Daly, TD, has called for the introduction of an Uber-style service in […]

Uber-style Taxi Service Will Help Tackle Rural Isolation

‘Ruxi’ proposal a viable solution to rural isolation The VFI are urging government to support the implementation of a rural taxi service that would help alleviate isolation and encourage social cohesion. Minister for State Jim Daly, TD, has called for the introduction of an Uber-style service in towns with a population under 5,000 that would […]

Big win for Alliance for Insurance Reform

The first of the Alliance for Insurance Reform’s ‘10 Asks‘ has been passed into law. The Central Bank (National Claims Information Database) Act 2018  is not in itself all that promising as it hands control of the new insurance oversight data to the Central Bank, which has been thoroughly discredited as a protector of policyholders. However, […]