Bill Published to Allow Direct Brewery Sales

Beoir welcomes the news today that the Labour party are to introduce a Bill aimed at boosting craft-beer tourism in Ireland by removing the major regulatory barrier for breweries, microbreweries, cider makers and distilleries.

The Intoxicating Liquor (Breweries and Distilleries) Bill 2016 would allow these businesses to sell their own produce to tourists and other visitors on site. Currently, a brewery manufacturer’s licence only allows them to see in excess of about 19 litres which is too much for the average consumer.

Beoir has been campaigning for this measure for a number of years, most recently in our pre-budget submission. This will open up a new level of consumer choice and really help our tourism sector. Brewery and distillery tourism is on the rise all around the world and we see especially potential for tourism in the cider producer sector. This will be a great boost to rural Ireland which is where most cider producers are located.

We are happy to work with breweries, cider producers, and government if we can help in any way from a consumer standpoint.