Kilkenny native at the helm of Vintners Association criticises Budget despite VAT cut

Casey being declared world champion after a close fight

placeholder image — Casey being declared world champion after a close fight

Budget 2026 was unveiled on Tuesday

KILKENNY LIVE'S BUDGET 2026 COVERAGE IS SPONSORED BY ORMONDE TAX ADVISORS

The Vintners Association of Ireland (VFI) has denounced Budget 2026 even with the inclusion of a VAT reduction from 13.5% to 9% on food pubs, saying that it fails to deliver for traditional pubs and leaves others with an unacceptable wait for relief.

Though it welcomed the long-debated VAT cut, VFI says that delaying the change until July of next year will put pressure on food pubs during their toughest trading period in the first half of the year.

The Federation also bemoaned costs such as the minimum wage increase going into effect in January, six months before the VAT relief will be introduced and said that the Government has ignored traditional pubs by declining to introduce the Draft Excise Rebate Scheme which would have returned a share of excise on draft beer and cider to businesses.

The government often adjusts the point at which people pay the higher rate of tax, so earners aren't hit with bigger bills as their salaries increase.

The VFI has called for the VAT cut to be brought forward to January and for the Draft Excise Rebate to be urgently revisited.

“Small publicans are being asked to carry the weight of endless new costs while being given no meaningful help to survive. Communities will lose their pubs if this continues and once they’re gone, they’re gone for good,” Crotty concluded.