A number of Irish pubs have announced that they will be turning their Heineken taps off in light of the keg price hike announced by the brewers this week.
The drinks company warned pub owners on Friday that they would be increasing keg prices by the equivalent of 17c per pint from December 1 due to the "unprecedented cost increases across the entire supply chain."
Many pub owners have already said the hike could mean a massive 35c increase per pint in their premises as they try to "maintain margins".
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In a statement to pubs, Heineken said: "Businesses in Ireland today continue to face exceptional inflationary challenges and our industry is no different. Like you, HEINEKEN Ireland is equally faced with unprecedented cost increases across the entire supply chain.
"We have been working hard to minimise the impacts of these increases but unfortunately have not been able to mitigate all of them.
"A price increase on all our draught products will enable us to more closely reflect the cost of producing and supplying our products. This price increase will come into effect on all Heineken Ireland portfolio draught products on December 1st 2022.
"Keg prices for Heineken and Coors lager will increase, equivalent to 17 cents per pint.
"This increase is essential to us to offset, in part, the severe cost input pressure and ensure that HEINEKEN Ireland remains as active as ever in supporting you."
In reaction to the news, some pubs have already said they would be taking the brewer's products off their shelves altogether instead of passing the costs on.
The owner Darkey Kelly's on Fishamble St in Dublin said: "I can't ask my customers to pay over the odds for a pint" and added, "if you are a Heineken drinker we have plenty of other options here to drink", reports Cork Beo.
Kavanagh's Pub on New St also told their regulars to "please get used to drinking a different larger" as they're "taking out two products".
They said: "With the new increases announced from Heineken this morning we would need to increase the pint by about 35c to our already hard pressed customers.
"When do we collectively take a stand against this madness?
"All pubs should remove at least one of Heinekens product lines from our businesses, that should make them sit up and take notice."
Templogue's The Morgue called on Diageo, who own Guinness, to avoid following suite and also urged customers to "support and reward breweries who do not increase prices with tap space".
They said: "A 17c increase before taxes means that the price at the taps will increase to close to 50c a pint at the counter, taking into account the bar will have to maintain their margin, to operate.
"Everyone knows the bills pubs are facing, most bars have increased wages, to meet the cost-of-living crisis."
In response to the hikes, a spokesperson for Heineken stressed they're not "passing on the full impact" of the company's costs and that they were "left with no choice".
They added: "Heineken sets the wholesale price that is charged for its products but has no role in relation to the price paid by the consumer, as this is set by individual operators within the on-trade sector."
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