We can't take more blows...

PUBLICANS warned they can’t take any more financial “blows” after price increases from Guinness brewer Diageo came into effect yesterday. 

Hugh Hourican, who owns The Boar’s Head on Capel Street, Dublin, said he’s not charging more for a pint just yet but admitted he will have to increase it soon.

He told the Irish Mirror: “We’re not happy about it at all. It’s hard to get customers in at the moment.

“It’s great people are back supporting us after the last three years but unfortunately all we can do is pass on the increase.

“It’s making our job harder, all our costs have gone up too like labour and power bills.

“We’re hoping this is the last blow. We expected it once Heineken upped their prices in December, hopefully, this is the last increase because we can’t take any more blows.

“We can’t absorb the costs on this occasion. We have done so over the years but we have to pass them on.

“The days of people just walking in for a pint are gone. You have to provide extra facilities and keep your pub updated. You have to have the proper TVs and channels. Publicans are paying up to €14,000 a year just to show sport.”

Diageo’s price hike came into effect yesterday just weeks after Heineken raised prices at the start of December.

Many pubs across the capital have not yet passed on the increase to punters and will only do so when their current Guinness stock runs out with several bulk buying kegs after the announcement last month.