What price non-alcoholic beer?
My pregnant friend Elaine misses beer. A lot. So she’s on the non-alcoholic variety, Paulaner and Beck’s being the tipples of choice.
Last Thursday, I joined her and lovely husband Kieran for dinner at Cortina’s in Dundrum. Why, she asked, was a bottle of non-alcoholic Paulener, which has no excise duty to be paid, still a hefty €6?
She’s right, of course. A bottle of non-alcoholic beer should cost no more than a soft drink. I don’t mean to single Cortina’s out; in most pubs and restaurants it costs at least the same as an alcoholic beer. Often more. Is this an open and shut case of egregious overcharging, or is there a fair reason why the permanently and temporarily teetotal are being fleeced?
Tuesday 1 February, 2011 at 11:35 am
When you consider a pint of rock shandy costs more than a pint of alcohol in many pubs, I doubt you want to index non-alcoholic beer to soft drinks!
The real question is why are non-alcoholic drinks such a rip-off in pubs?
Tuesday 1 February, 2011 at 3:46 pm
Another very nice non alcoholic beer option is Erdinger. Think its about €7 for 6 bottles.
Totally agree that its a rip off in restaurants too. Best option is to go to places where you can bring your own drink! I love Bistro Spice in Monkstown, lovely little Indian restaurant and no corkage charge. They even pour yo
Tuesday 1 February, 2011 at 3:46 pm
sorry should finish at pour your wine for you!
Tuesday 1 February, 2011 at 3:53 pm
Yes! Bistro Spice is a great little spot: http://www.cheapeats.ie/2010/06/15/bistro-spice-monkstown/
Tuesday 1 February, 2011 at 4:01 pm
No idea why it’s so expensive, but the range is generally poor too. No choice, and i have yet to encounter an establishment stocking N/A cider (M&S do a nice apple one, and kopparberg pear N/A is in many dunnes and tescos)
Tuesday 8 February, 2011 at 2:55 pm
N/A cider = Cidona?!
Thursday 17 February, 2011 at 12:13 pm
You can get bottles of Schneider Weisse NA in The Porterhouse Temple Bar for €4 and it’s actually very nice. Tastes kinda fruity. Great place to enjoy it too.