DRINKS INDUSTRY LAUNCHES MAJOR NATIONAL CAMPAIGN ‘SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL…’
- NEW REPORT LAUNCHED TODAY FINDS THAT 92,000 JOBS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRINKS INDUSTRY IN IRELAND
- DETAILS OF A SERIES OF ROLLING REGIONAL MEDIA EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY OVER THE COMING WEEKS ANNOUNCED
- INDUSTRY-WIDE PLEDGE IDENTIFIES NECESSARY STEPS THAT MUST BE TAKEN TO ADDRESS ALCOHOL MISUSE
The drinks industry has launched a major national campaign entitled ‘Support Your Local…’ The campaign is designed to highlight the significant financial and social contribution made by the Irish drinks industry, including:
- Employing 92,000 people in every corner of Ireland
- Buying €1.1 billion worth of Irish inputs, and
- Offering a unique hospitality experience, renowned internationally, in the pubs of Ireland
A new report by Tony Foley from the DCU Business School: ‘Drinks Related Employment in Dail Constituencies’ was presented, and details of a series of regional ‘Support Your Local…’ events were announced.
Bart Storan, Campaign Manager, ‘Support Your Local…’ said at the launch:
“This is an exceptional industry, with fantastic stories full of rich detail to tell. So when we say ‘Support Your Local’, we are taking about supporting your local farmer; supporting your local distillery; supporting your local pub, restaurant, hotel or independent off-licence; and supporting your local community. The campaign will be bringing the message about the positive role that the industry plays in Ireland around the country. We will be asking people to support an industry that is a proud part of our history – but which is also an exciting part of our future. Events will be held in the run up to the local and European elections in a number of constituencies and www.SupportYourLocal.ie / https://twitter.com/supporturlocal will act as the online focal point of the campaign.”
Tony Foley, Economist, DCU Business School said:
“The national economic impact of the drinks industry is substantial. There are 8,298 public houses and other bars and almost 1,700 full off-licences. In addition to the large brewers and distillers there are 25 craft or micro-breweries and 15 new distilleries are being developed. Nationally, the drinks industry directly provides 63,000 full or part-time jobs with a wages bill of €885m and purchases over €1 billion of Irish produced agricultural, other materials and services inputs. These purchases support about 11,600 jobs. The direct and indirect employment total of 74,600 supports an additional 17,500 jobs. Overall, the drinks industry supports over 92,000 jobs.”
Also speaking at the launch of ‘Support Your Local…’ was
Marie Byrne, Dublin Whiskey Company:
“The success of Irish Whiskey is one that we can all be proud of, and one that needs support. If we are to ensure that companies such as our craft distillery, namely the Dublin Whiskey Company - are to thrive into the future, we need the support of government, key stakeholders and the wider industry. Ireland has a huge opportunity to promote Irish whiskey on a global scale – so we need everyone to support their local in order to make it happen. I would encourage everyone to ‘Support Your Local…’”
Vincent Flannery, Proprietor, The Bard’s Den, Letterfrack, Co. Galway:
“Our local community have made a huge effort to support us and I would like to thank them for their continued support. This support has made it possible to keep growing our business despite the difficult times we are working through, and a number of excise tax increases which are really cutting into our profits. We have reinvested in our product, grown our services and continue to support and be supported by our local community. Six years ago we employed 3 fulltime and 4 part time employees. We now employ 8 full time and 15 part time employees and with a bit of luck, and the right support, we will grow even further.”
Eugene Ryan, Barley Farmer, Stradbally, Co Laois:
“My family have been involved in barley farming for a many years and without the iconic Irish brands such as Guinness being sold worldwide an already difficult situation would be made impossible. The improvements I am making on my farm allow me to be competitive in a tight market and I look forward to supplying grain to a vibrant drinks industry in this country for many years to come.”
An industry-wide pledge clarifying the members’ position on the necessary steps that must be taken in order to address alcohol misuse was issued at the event. It stated that the signatories have sought to work with government in order to play an appropriate role in addressing issues pertaining to the misuse of alcohol in this country, and called on government to address alcohol misuse by:
- Addressing the sale of cheap alcohol
- Introducing a statutory ban on price-based advertising
- Introducing statutory codes to regulate the merchandising of alcohol
The ‘Support Your Local…’ campaign is supported and funded by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland. All members of that group – including suppliers, pubs, restaurants, hotels and independent off-licences are enthusiastically asking people to recognise the massive contribution that the industry makes to local communities all over Ireland, and are calling on everyone to ‘Support Your Local…’
The press launch of ‘Support Your Local…’ was held in Buswells Hotel at 11am on Monday 28th April. A campaign launch party was held that evening in Vintage Cocktail Club for media and stakeholder groups.
https://twitter.com/supporturlocal
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MEDIA CONTACT
Q4 Public Relations +353 1 475 1444
Ruth O’Byrnes +353 86 055 8331 / ruth@q4pr.ie
Colin Taylor +353 86 783 2502 / colin@q4pr.ie
NOTES TO THE EDITOR
Photography
Photocall Ireland is issuing photography from the launch event, and it is available upon request at the contact details above.
Research
A copy of ‘Drinks Related Employment in Dail Constituencies’ is available at www.supportyourlocal.ie / www.drinksindustry.ie or upon request.
Regional Launches
Regional launches of ‘Support Your Local…’ are taking place in the following locations:
· Tuesday 29 April @ 4.00pm
Cork Launch - The White House Ballincollig, Cork
· Wednesday 30 April @ 4.00pm
Galway Launch - The Earl Inn, Kiltullagh, Athenry, Co Galway
· Thursday 1 May @ 4.00pm
Limerick Launch - Jerry O'Dea's Bar, Mulgrave Street, Limerick
· Tuesday 6 May @ 4.00pm
Mayo Launch – John J O’Grady’s, North Mall, Westport
· Wednesday 7 May @ 4.00pm
Meath Launch – Ryan’s Bar, Trimgate Street, Navan
· Thursday 8 May
Wexford Launch
· Thursday 15 May @ 4.00pm
Cavan-Monaghan Launch - Squealing Pig, Monaghan Town
· Monday 19 May @ 4.00pm
Kerry Launch – The Laurels, Main Street, Killarney
Industry Statement
28th April 2014
To whom it may concern,
We the undersigned have sought to work with government in order to play an appropriate role in addressing issues pertaining to the misuse of alcohol in this country.
Furthermore, we now call on government to address alcohol misuse by:
- Addressing the sale of cheap alcohol
- Introducing a statutory ban on price-based advertising
- Introducing statutory codes to regulate the merchandising of alcohol.
The drinks industry makes a massive contribution to Ireland – both in economic and social terms. Reducing alcohol-related harm is in all of our best interests.
Signed,
Maggie Timoney, Chair, Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland and Managing Director, Heineken Ireland
David Smith, Chair, Irish Brewers Association and Country Director, Diageo Ireland
Peter Morehead, Chair, Irish Spirits Association and Production Director, Irish Distillers
Michael Foley, Chair, Irish Wine Association and Marketing Director at Findlater Wine & Spirit Group
Tom O’Brien, Chair, Licensed Vintners Association
Evelyn Jones, Chair, National Off-Licence Association
Tim Fenn, Chief Executive Officer, Irish Hotels Federation
Padraic Og Gallagher, President, Restaurants Association of Ireland
Gerry Rafter, President, VFI