Good Friday’s extra €40m for on-trade

The extra day’s business on Good Friday was a welcome boost to the pub trade where it was estimated that some €40 million will have been generated in sales for pubs throughout the country.

Good Friday is also likely to have generated over €7 million in VAT and Excise Duty to the Exchequer.

Publicans had the choice of opening their doors or remaining shut on the day pointed out VFI Chief Executive Padraig Cribben.

“Pubs opening on Good Friday is good news both for publicans and their customers” he stated, “but also for the many tourists who visit Ireland over the Easter weekend, who in the past would find the pubs closed during a major holiday.”