Ireland tops EU Charts for beverage prices, CSO report finds

Ireland ranks among the EU's most expensive countries for food and drink, sparking debate on pricing, taxes, and affordability

A recent report from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has revealed that Ireland remains one of the most expensive countries in the EU for food and drink, especially when it comes to beverages.

According to the CSO’s 2024 publication “Price Levels of Food, Beverages and Tobacco: How Ireland Compares”, non-alcoholic beverages in Ireland were priced at 140% of the EU index value last year, making them the most expensive in the entire EU.

Alcoholic beverages weren’t far behind, costing Irish consumers 198% of the EU index value, the fifth highest among member states.

The report is likely to spark renewed discussion around taxation and affordability within the drinks sector.

Tobacco prices were also striking, with Ireland recording the highest cost in Europe at 259% of the EU index value.

For businesses in the drinks industry, these figures raise important questions about consumer spending power and pricing strategies.

With inflation cooling but prices still elevated, the challenge will be balancing value for consumers while maintaining margins in a persistently high-cost environment.

The full report is available at CSO.ie.