The Government is the main player in driving inflation, the head of the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland has claimed.

It follows an announcement from Heineken Ireland yesterday that it is to raise its prices.

The company is to increase the price of its draughts by 3% - or 6c per pint - from June 4th.

Heineken said the change was due to "continued increases in underlying costs".

"Despite our ongoing efforts to increase productivity and reduce costs, it is impossible for us to absorb all of the increased costs that we have been faced with, and therefore we need to adjust our pricing," it added.

Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) CEO Pat Crotty told Newstalk Breakfast pubs are being consistently hit.

"It means for the publican that they have another cost to either try and absorb or rationalise in a way that'll keep them in business," he said.

"Pubs have been hit, we hear it every day on the radio, right through the last two years with supply chain issues, with inflation with [the] war in Ukraine affecting everything.

"We're now in a situation that this year more than any since the 9% VAT change last year, Government have decided to be the main player in driving inflation".

A Heineken pint in a bar. Image: Jorge Tutor / Alamy

Mr Crotty said the Heineken price change is "3% on the cost of the keg coming in the door".

"You can argue that [it is a reasonable increase] but my phone hopped from the first light yesterday morning with publicans saying they don't want to put up the price," he said.

"They are part of their own communities, they feel for the customers who are coming in the door who are suffering the same way with the cost of living.

"They would have said that big companies could have helped them by maybe sucking it up."

Mr Crotty said he believes "as many people as can" will try and absorb the price increase but that it is a "balancing act".

Last month, Guinness owner Diageo confirmed plans to hike prices for the third time in around a year and a half.

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