Say it softly but the economic boom has finally put the brakes on one of the classic icons of a disappearing era. Interim figures from Diageo show that sales of its most famous brew - Guinness - actually fell in Ireland by 3 per cent. And this despite a 2 per cent rise worldwide in sales of the black stuff. The figure glared out from the half-year results despite news that overall Guinness sales in Ireland, including ales and lagers, had risen by 2 per cent in a flat beer market.

It appears that efforts by Guinness to ingratiate itself with the younger, more affluent market by promoting Guinness ice cold to run head-to-head with the lagers, have not proved sufficiently successful.