December’s wine prices drop 5% in off-trade

Alcohol prices rose by 0.5% overall in the year to last December according to the Central Statistics Office's Consumer Price Index.

Prices were down by 1.6% over the month and down by 3.6% across the three-month period to the end of December.

Off-licence alcohol prices showed a decline of 1.3% over the year and a decline of 4.0% when compared to the previous month, November.

The annual decline in off-trade prices comprised a 0.1% drop in spirits prices, a 0.8% drop in wine prices and a 2.7% drop in beer prices.

The monthly price decline comprised a 2.8% drop in spirits prices, a 5.0% drop in wine prices and a 2.9% drop in beer prices.

Prices in restaurants, cafés and similar saw a 1.4% increase in prices over the 12-month period to December 2021 and a 0.2% increase on November 2021.

Licensed premises themselves saw a 1.6% rise in prices over the year to December comprising a 2.5% increase in spirits prices, a 1.3% increase in wine and a 1.8% increase in beer prices.

Prices for soft drinks and mineral water in licensed premises rose by 0.5% during the year.

Compared to the previous month, November, there was little change in December’s prices in licensed premises with only a 0.1% rise in wine prices registered.

Prices rose by 5.5% generally in the year to December 2021, reports the CSO, the largest annual change in prices since April 2001.