Kitt says drink prices will not rise this year

The cost of drink will not increased this year but Minister of State for Trade Mr Tom Kitt has urged consumers to shop around for the best price.

Mr Kitt said he had received reassurances of a voluntary price freeze from the Licensed Vintners Association and the Vintners Federation of Ireland. Mr Kitt said he believed the assurance would "introduce some stability into the market".

"I welcome very much the fact that industry has voluntarily agreed not to increase prices in the short to medium term", he said.

"I hope that this initiative will allow consumers the breathing space to size up the competition and in some cases, perhaps, to encourage, price reductions".