Irish drinks sector contributes €4.1 billion to economy and supports over 14,000 jobs across the island
Ireland’s alcohol drinks sector contributes an estimated €4.1 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the all-island economy and supports over 14,000 jobs, according to a new independent report, Economic impact of the Irish Drinks Sector, prepared by Indecon International Economic and Strategic Consultants, commissioned by Drinks Ireland.
The findings demonstrate the scale and productivity of a key indigenous industry that spans approximately 200 producers across the island, including around 50 whiskey distilleries, 100 beer and cider producers, nine established Irish cream liqueur facilities, 45 gin producers, and several poitín and other spirits producers.
Brewing, distilling or drinks manufacturing facilities, many of them SMEs, are located in every county across the island of Ireland, highlighting the sector’s strong contribution to regional economic activity and development. The sector is deeply rooted in local communities and firmly committed to them, serving as a community anchor.
Employment in the sector
The sector supports around 14,000 jobs, comprising approximately 6,000 direct jobs, including visitor experience employment, plus 8,000 linked jobs across supply, services, and distribution. Drinks manufacturing directly employs 4,726 people across the island (4,222 in the ROI), with a further 8,076 linked jobs and almost 1,300 people employed in visitor and experience centres.
The sector also supports an estimated 26,000–37,000 downstream jobs in hospitality and retail. The vast majority of producers and associated employment are located outside Dublin, reinforcing the sector’s role as a critical driver of rural and regional economic activity.
The report also highlights the strong productivity of the sector. Output per worker stands at €809,325, 22% higher than the equivalent figure for food manufacturing (€662,215). Gross Value Added per employee is estimated at €452,800, substantially above the €136,200 recorded for food manufacturing. These measures of output and GVA per employee characterise a sector of high productivity and quality jobs.
Exports remain a defining strength of the Irish drinks sector, with annual all-island exports valued at €2.7 billion. Export value increased by 91% and export volume by 52% over the last decade (2015–2025). Irish whiskey and Irish cream liqueur have become export powerhouses for Ireland internationally, with 95% of Irish whiskey production and a similar share of Irish cream liqueur exported.
Beer recorded growth of 16% in value and 32% in volume over the period. The sector has a presence in more than 120 international markets. We are proud to be home to an increasing number of globally recognised drinks brands, often providing a first touchpoint with Ireland for international consumers.
The sector’s contribution extends well beyond the factory gate, with strong grain-to-glass links to Irish agriculture and domestic supply chains. With 64% of purchases sourced domestically, drinks producers purchase over €815 million in Irish inputs each year, supporting 5,800 specialist tillage producers, 17,500 dairy farms, Irish apple growers and many supply, service and distribution businesses. In 2025, this included almost 273,000 tonnes of Irish barley, almost 354 million litres of Irish milk and significant volumes of apples. As the sector has grown, domestic input purchasing has increased by more than 40% over the past 15 years.
Cormac Healy, director of drinks Ireland, said: “The strength and scale of the Irish drinks sector is clear from these findings, but this report also comes at an important time for producers facing significant pressures on their businesses.”
The Indecon report also highlights the growing importance of the sector to Irish tourism and the visitor economy. Brewery, distillery, and cidery visitor experience centres attract more than 2.7 million visitors annually, with approximately 1,005 people directly employed in tourism-related activity, rising to an estimated 1,293 when wider spillover effects are included.
Many producers are located along major tourism routes including the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East, and the Causeway Coastal Route, strengthening Ireland’s tourism offering, connecting visitors with food and drink tourism, and bringing them to local destinations they might not otherwise visit.
Consumers in Ireland are increasingly embracing moderation and balanced consumption. Per capita alcohol consumption in Ireland has fallen by 36% over the past 25 years and is now in line with the EU average.
The sector plays an important role in communities across the island. Nearly three-quarters of respondents to a nationally representative Drinks Ireland survey said that local breweries and distilleries make a positive contribution to their communities, while 80% said they provide important employment at a local or regional level.
The pub network also performs a comparable function, and in many rural areas represents one of the few remaining shared social spaces within a town or village. Pubs continue to host a broad range of community activity, including everyday social interaction as well as local and sporting events, and their continued viability is closely linked to the maintenance of social infrastructure and community cohesion in rural Ireland.
Claire Tolan, chair of Drinks Ireland, said: “This report puts a clear figure on what the Irish drinks sector contributes to our economy, and the significant story behind it. From family-run craft producers and world-renowned beer, whiskey, and cream liqueur brands, to the farmers, hospitality businesses, retailers, and tourism operators, this is a sector with deep roots right across the island and an extraordinary global reach.”
