Nearly half of Dublin pubs who serve food say the VAT increase has led to a drop in their business, new research conducted by the Licensed Vintners Association shows.
This resulted in a €1 increase per average dish in 24% of the food pubs, a €1.50 jump per menu item for 22% of these pubs and a €2 hike on average for 17% of pubs. Today's research also shows that 68% of Dublin pubs who serve food do so every day of the week. One in six food pubs say the reason they do not open every day is that it is not economical to open on certain days.
Donall O'Keeffe, chief executive of the LVA said, these statistics once again underline the importance of reducing the VAT rate on food.