Some publicans are taking part-time jobs to supplement their falling incomes, according to a vintners' leader yesterday.
According to Mr Séamus O'Donoghue, president of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI), business has dropped by as much as 30 per cent.
The organisation yesterday completed a two-day meeting attended by over 60 delegates in the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone.
"A number of factors are affecting trade - the smoking ban, the 9 p.m. cut-off and a general downturn in business," he said.
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"We have the highest rate of tax on wine in the EU, the second highest on beer and third highest on spirits and our margins are one of the lowest in the EU."