TOPIC:

Not sure if this topic has been covered already or not but I thought I'd put it out there. I like when I go abroad to visit a brewery and can purchase a beer on tap within the brewery and I'd like to know why I currently can't do this in Ireland without having to pay a few euro for a tour? And what is being done about it or is anyone out there campaigning for tap rooms in breweries?
Also is there a law against selling beer through the breweries own web site or is it just that there is a minimum on the amount that can be sold? I see 8 degrees selling 24 packs but not many other breweries doing it.
Cheers for any info on these queries.

"og_sean":2x8mftvv wrote: I'd like to know why I currently can't do this in Ireland without having to pay a few euro for a tour? [/quote:2x8mftvv]Couple of reasons, I think. One is that it would require the brewery to have a pub licence and pub licences are expensive. Even if pub licences were cheap and easy, running an on-site bar would change the nature of the business: it would move from being a production facility to a retailer. It would need the facilities and resources that retailers have. It's just a different business plan that most Irish brewers probably don't consider because the cost of entry is so high, because of the licence. It may also be that they don't want to upset their customers -- the pubs and off licences -- by going into the same business as them.

For the record, I'd be reasonably sure that charging you a few euros for a tour and then giving you beer is against the law.

"og_sean":2x8mftvv wrote: And what is being done about it or is anyone out there campaigning for tap rooms in breweries?[/quote:2x8mftvv]The Sale of Alcohol Bill is currently in an early draft stage at the Department of Justice. Its aim is to modernise Ireland's licensing law from top to bottom. There's a real opportunity to campaign hard for a change to what brewers can do with their production licence, but it can't really start until the bill starts moving -- the publication of a draft bill would be the next stage. At the moment, the government can bat away any lobbying on the issue by saying "that will be dealt with in the Sale of Alcohol Bill."

"og_sean":2x8mftvv wrote: Also is there a law against selling beer through the breweries own web site or is it just that there is a minimum on the amount that can be sold?[/quote:2x8mftvv]There's a minimum on the amount that can be sold.

"og_sean":2x8mftvv wrote: I see 8 degrees selling 24 packs but not many other breweries doing it.[/quote:2x8mftvv]When 8 Degrees started online retailing they immediately got in trouble with their customers because they were undercutting them, so they raised their prices. I guess other breweries don't do it because it's not worth the effort: being a wholesaler is easier, and keeps you out of trouble with everyone.

That answer that. Thanks a lot John.

To add a bit. Regular on licence is required for the sale of alcohol on the premises, as John said. The licence itself costs very little, the major cost is in persuading a publican to part with his existing licence. That's probably around €40k at the moment, down from €250k in the boom which is why all the new pubs built during the boom are of the mega variety.

The only organisation that has public policy on the tap room issue that I'm aware of is Renua, which you can find on their website.

Others may be working on a proposal that a restricted licence accompany a manufacturer's licence. E.g. permission to serve restricted hours, say 12 till 6 on Saturdays. (I think Renua's policy (for now) is a full licence be issued). Interestingly Northern Ireland's licensing was modified a few years ago and while simpler than in ROI, it's still nowhere close to the liberal licensing in England and Wales.

Under existing ROI legislation you can sell 4.5 gallons or more out the door (it's considered wholesale) for consumption off premises. It's an awkward amount and difficult to make it work.

I would say the ability to sell direct to the public in the brewery (i.e. taprooms) is the single biggest issue for Irish micros at the moment.

I wouldn't agree with John on his point about charging admission, but it is definitely not black and white.

In terms of Beoir, it was part of our pre-budget submission and also a letter to Richard Bruton on his action plan for jobs last year.

The letter got a response from Bruton's office that they were passing it up the food chain and has possibly helped influence the upcoming sale of alcohol bill.