Brazen boozers in Temple Bar have been slammed for their "extortionate" prices as some are now flogging pints for nearly €10.
A probe by the Irish Mirror visited six pubs in the tourist hot-spot and found three were charging in excess of €9.50 for certain tipples.
The Temple Bar Pub, which was bustling with punters who were visiting Ireland, was the most expensive watering hole we visited.
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A pint of Heineken, Carlsberg, Hophouse 13, Bulmers, or Orchard Thieves costs an eye-watering €9.95 - which is believed to be the dearest in the country. While Guinness or Murphys will set revellers back €8.95 while a half pint costs €4.95.
South African Robbie Mullins who was boozing with some pals said he was in shock at how expensive his beers cost. Speaking to The Irish Mirror, he said: “I genuinely thought the barman was joking. The prices here are absolutely crazy, I can’t believe it.”
Four pals Heather McMillin, Leigh McCracken, Ellie Watkins, and Julie Gibb who were visiting Ireland from Scotland said they visited the boozer because it’s the most well-known.
Leigh said one of her cousins and a colleague are from Ireland and told her to steer clear but said she couldn’t come to Dublin and not visit.
She said: “Everybody tells you not to go but you just want to go and visit for yourself.” Ellie, who agreed, said: “Everybody knows about this pub so it was worth it to come even though we only had the one because it’s so expensive.
“It’s a lot more expensive than Scotland but the measures for spirits are bigger in Ireland compared to back home so that’s a positive.”
Isabel Walker, who was on holiday in Ireland from Melbourne in Australia, said prices for beers in Ireland have been generally high wherever she went.
The 32-year-old said going to The Temple Bar Pub was like a “rite of passage”. She told us: “It was expensive but it wasn’t much more expensive than other pubs. I paid €8 yesterday and €9.95 in The Temple Bar Pub so it wasn’t out of the norm.
“I came for the experience like one pint is enough before going. I wouldn’t buy another because it’s more than I would pay normally.”
Xu Quin from China said: “The prices aren’t normal. I’ve come down from Belfast where it is cheaper.”
Down the road at Oliver St. John Gogarty’s prices weren’t any cheaper with a pint of Heineken and Rockshore costing €9.90 while the black stuff will set punters back €8.90. The boozer was also selling 330ml bottles of Heineken, Coors, and Rockshore for €8.20 while a shot of vodka, whiskey, or gin was €9.50.
The Merchant’s Arch, which is close to the Ha’penny Bridge, was selling Rockshore Cider for €8.50 during “regular hours” but this rose to €9.50 during “late hours”.
While lagers Hophouse 13, Rockshore, Rockshore Light, Carlsberg, and Tuborg cost €8.30 but this went up to €9.30 for late drinkers. While a pint of Chieftain was €8.60 during "regular hours" and €9.60 during "late hours". They were also selling mixers for €3.90 while a Red Bull costs €6.80.
All the boozers who were selling pints for more than €9 said there was live music every day.
Javier Arroyo from Chile, who was walking through the tourist mecca, said: “The prices in this area are higher than in others. Some pubs are charging nearly €10, it’s not worth it. Temple Bar is like a meeting point. It’s close to everything, it’s safer than the other side of the river.”
While June Horath from Switzerland said the prices were similar to what they are in her home country.
She said: “This area is more famous than other parts of Dublin. People come here to have fun and enjoy the experience. I’m from Switzerland so it’s not that expensive for me. It’s kind of the same price for me.”
Consumers’ Association of Ireland Chairman Michael Kilcoyne said pubs were getting away with charging such high prices because people continued to pay it.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror, he said: “It’s off the walls stuff, that’s extortionate. The fact tourists are willing to pay for it is a problem and that’s why these guys keep charging it.
“If the pubs weren’t able to sell it and people were going in and finding out the price and turning their heels, the pubs would soon adjust their prices. It’s extortionate but it’s up to the consumer at the end of the day. You can get a pint not too far for a lot cheaper.”
Just a short walk from Temple Bar, O'Reilly's located on Tara Street is selling all pints including Guinness and Heineken for €5.
General Manager Feng Yang told the Irish Mirror earlier this month: “The prices are €5 all the time. There is no happy hour or stuff like that.
“When we open our pints are €5 and when we close the pints are also €5. People are really happy about the prices. All the main pints are €5 except for two premium beers which cost €5.50.”
Two of the biggest drink brewers Diageo and Heineken have upped their prices in recent months. The price hike from Diageo, who makes Guinness, came into effect on February 1, after Heineken raised the cost of their drinks at the start of December.
Diageo upped the cost of a pint by 12 cents excluding VAT with publicans reckoning they will need to hike the cost by at least 30 cents to keep their current profit margins. While Dutch-brewing company Heineken, who also make Birra Moretti, Orchard Thieves, Coors, Fosters, Beamish, Murphys, and Island’s Edge, increased their pint prices by 17c before VAT.
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