Ireland highest in EU for alcohol/tobacco prices

As the country paying the most for alcohol and tobacco in the EU27, Ireland paid 87% more than the EU average for alcohol and tobacco in 2020 according to eurostat's just-released Price Level Index, its annual cost of living comparison table of price levels for food, beverages, tobacco, clothing and footwear.

The consumer group ‘alcoholic beverages and tobacco’ represents some 5% of household expenditure on average across the EU. The ‘Alcoholic beverages’ category itself represents an average of 2% of household expenditure across the EU.

Among the total of 37 countries taking part in the survey Norway topped the table for alcohol & tobacco prices (119.7% higher than EU average) while Iceland came second (90% higher) ahead of Ireland.

Bulgaria had the lowest Price Level Index of the EU27 at just 61% of the EU average while among the 37 countries surveyed Macedonia had the smallest PLI at just 48% of the EU average.

According to eurostat, “The highest price dispersion is found for alcoholic beverages and tobacco. This is mainly due to large differences in taxation on these products across 37 countries.”

Ireland found itself 29% above the EU27 for restaurant and hotel prices which puts it in the fourth most-expensive place behind table-topper Switzerland (69% above EU average), Denmark (154%) and Norway (156%). in the 37-country table, Iceland, too, was above Ireland in this category being 47.5% higher than the EU average.

Ireland is the most expensive country in the EU27 for non-alcoholic beverages at 35% above the EU average which also placed Ireland as being the most expensive for tobacco at 24% above the EU average.