Press Releases

Budget 2019 – Vintners’ Federation of Ireland statement The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) says today’s decision by the Government to increase the hospitality VAT rate to 13.5% is a shocking and retrograde step that

Any move to increase the hospitality VAT rate could do lasting damage to the growing pub food trade, impacting on pub jobs across the country according to the two groups representing publicans. 

Claims made by the Oktoberfest organisers in a statement posted to its Facebook page (on Saturday 7th September) are highly misleading. In particular, VFI City Secretary Michael O’Donovan emphatically states he did not make the

There were 1,477 less pubs in Ireland last year than in 2005, representing a 17.1% drop in businesses across the country, according to the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI, of which the VFI is

Like the rest of the country publicans were disappointed when Ireland failed to qualify for World Cup 2018. From a business perspective our members are now hoping for a knock-out stage packed with big nations.

Ireland’s drinks industry sees growing demand for wine and spirits while beer remains most popular drink.    Ireland’s drinks consumers have a growing taste for wine and spirits, according to a new report published by

A majority of publicans believe their business will improve over the next three years, new research reveals. This increased confidence is leading to plans by many in the trade to invest and refurbish their premises. The findings are

The Irish Pub Awards 2018 were launched in Dublin today (26th April 2018). The launch, which took place in Lemon & Duke Public House in Dublin’s Duke Lane, is jointly presented by Vintners’ Federation Ireland

Good Friday 2018 represents an historic day for Irish pubs as for the first time in over 90 years licensed venues will be open and permitted to serve alcohol.The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI), in welcoming the legislation that

Publicans are today (Thursday 25th January) celebrating a change in the licensing laws that will allow pubs sell alcohol on Good Friday for the first time in 90 years. The Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2017 passed

The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) has welcomed today’s launch of the Alliance for Insurance Reform, saying the initiative is badly needed in the face of the unprecedented escalation in insurance costs. According to Padraig

Over 73% of Irish people will visit the pub this Christmas, with the majority voting Christmas Eve as their favourite ‘night out’ over the festive period, according to an online poll conducted by the Vintners’

The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland has welcomed today’s decision (15th November) by the UK Supreme Court to reject an appeal against the introduction of minimum unit pricing. Scotland is now set to become the first

The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland today (9th November) says it fully supports the provisions of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill and urges Minister for Health Simon Harris to press ahead with implementation of the Bill.

Budget 2018  The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) broadly welcomes the measures announced in 2018 while having reservations about the maintenance of the very high levels of excise on alcohol. Padraig Cribben, Chief Executive, VFI

The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) has welcomed today’s (4th October) announcement by the Department of Rural and Community Development that €21.6m will be used to fund the 2017 Town and Village Renewal Scheme. In

Representing Ireland’s drinks and hospitality industry, including the VFI, the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) has recommended a five-point Brexit plan to the Government ahead of Budget 2018, which includes a policy to establish

  Some of Cork’s finest pubs are celebrating after coming out on top at the Irish Pub Awards 2017 regional final, which took place in The East Village Bar, Restaurant and Hotel, Douglas, Co Cork

Padraig Cribben, VFI Chief Executive, has rejected claims by economist Dan O’Brien that the special VAT rate introduced for the hospitality sector in 2011 has led to profiteering. In a letter to the Sunday Independent

The continuing decline in the value of sterling against the euro will have a damaging impact on the Irish economy in the months ahead, particularly in rural Ireland, and will seriously impact the Government’s ability