“The reality is, a lot of publicans are just surviving," that’s according to Clontibret pub-owner, Brian Reneghan. His comments are in response to Diageo’s decision to increase the price of its products, which includes the price of a pint of Guinness.
The price hike is due to come into effect this weekend. According to the Monaghan publican, the price hike which is the equivalent to 12c plus VAT on every pint, is yet another kick in the teeth for pub-owners.
Speaking on this morning’s Joe Finnegan Show, Brian says many publicans are “just surviving” due to overheads having “gone through the roof” in recent times. "The customers bills are also going up, people only have so much disposable income and we know that, so we know we have to keep our prices as low as possible to get our customers in – but this is as low as we can go," explained Brian.
He continued; "We have to cover our bills and we have to make some bit of income for ourselves, which mind you isn't great. My pints were €4.70 up until last week and now I’m up to €5. It is very difficult. My electricity bill is €325.50 per week, my insurance is over €170 a week, my coal man came last Tuesday and I gave him €110 euro and that will last me for about ten days, that’s before I pay my rates amongst everything else and that’s not counting the price of oil to heat the place.
“The reality is a lot of publicans are just surviving because overheads have gone through the roof and I think we’re all entitled to make a living. If a pub wants to put in Sky to show football matches, you’re talking maybe up to €800 a month to show that. I don’t think people realise the expenses that publicans have. Publicans never wanted to put our prices up, but if you go into your local supermarket, a pound of butter is up by over €1, so in percentage terms that could be almost 50% dearer that it had been 12 months ago, but when you count the 30 cent increase on a pint of Guinness, that percentage increase is tiny."
