BACON BAD

Breakfast roll to cost 25% more in hospitality VAT hike

- FERGHAL BLANEY

BREAKFAST rolls are to rocket in price if hospitality VAT is raised, experts warned yesterday.

Any Government move to increase the rate from 9% to 13.5% will see the price of the popular deli fare rise by up to 25%. It comes a day after it emerged beer was being sold for almost €10 a pint in some pubs.

The Licensed Vintners Association said: "Any increase would be Government-imposed inflation at a time of rising prices. 

THE price of a humble breakfast roll could rise by 25% if the special hospitality VAT rate is not retained, it was claimed yesterday.

The news comes hot on the heels of recent hikes in the price of alcohol that has seen some pubs charging almost a €10 for a pint.

Now increases in the cost of the breakfast staple could be next due to VAT rules around the sale of hot food items.

The levy is charged on hot food in your average deli or forecourt but not on a cold sandwich, so breakfast rolls and other hot sandwiches are in the firing line under the proposed hike.