Wine tax up from 39% to 54% in 3 years

In 2013 the Irish wine sector paid €302 million in excise to the Exchequer, accounting for 30.3% of all alcohol tax receipts according to the recently-published Irish Wine Market Report 2013 from the Irish Wine Association.

The IWA reports that wine sales fell 8.2% to 8.2 million (nine-litre) cases in 2013 compared to 2012’s 8.9 million case figure.

The report points out that since 2011 the tax-take from a standard €9 bottle of wine has increased from 39% (or €3.53) of the price to 54% (or €4.87).

Where Ireland pays the highest excise tax at €3.48 on a bottle of wine, quite a few other countries pay no excise at all. The nearest challenger for the ‘highest excise on wine’ title would be Finland at €2.77 and the UK at €2.68.

The report also points out that 75% of the wine purchased in Ireland lies in the €7 to €10.99 range.

Males and females in the 35 to 44 age group consume the most wine at 19.1% and 21.6% respectively of the total, with wine being responsible for 26% of total alcohol consumption by category.

Beer remains the top consumption category at 47%, while spirits enjoys a 19% share and cider an 8% share.

The multiples retain their position as top wine distribution channel with a 50% share of the wine market followed by the discounters with 19% and independent off-licences with 11%, on a par with symbol groups. Forecourt sales of wine are responsible for 6% of the total sales while specialists account for just 3%.

Pubs don’t even figure in the channel distribution table.