The key measures announced include an increase in the excise duty for tobacco products and the news that the Government plans to engage with the independent beer brewing sector to discuss implementing excise relief. No increases were announced for fuel or alcohol duty.
Tobacco excise
Excise duty on a pack of 20 cigarettes will increase by 50 cents, with a pro-rata increase on other tobacco products. According to the Budget 2022 Financial Resolutions, this change will take effect from midnight tonight and will bring the price of cigarettes in the most popular price category to €15 in support of the Government’s public health policy to reduce smoking levels in Irish society.
Independent brewers
The revised EU Alcohol Directive now permits the granting of up to 50 percent excise relief to independent small producers of cider and other fermented drinks products.
The Minister announced in his speech that this relief would also have a positive effect for small independent producers of beer. He has therefore instructed his department to engage with this sector to allow for implementation of this relief in next year’s Finance Bill.