Takings at the bars in Leinster House rose by 34 per cent to almost €445,000 last year, with sitting and former TDs and senators enjoying shots of tequila and sambuca, along with €27 measures of premium whiskey, reports Breaking News.
Throughout 2025, politicians accumulated close to €60,000 on their tabs across the Oireachtas’s two licensed premises — the Visitors’ Bar and the Members’ Bar, the latter reserved solely for current and former members, reports Breaking News.
Sales data indicates that popular shots such as sambuca and tequila featured among purchases in the Members’ Bar, alongside Midleton Very Rare whiskey, priced at €27 per measure.
Guinness topped the list of drinks sold across both venues, with just under 13,000 pints and 312 half pints poured over the year. Coors and Heineken were also strong sellers on draught, with 2,550 and 2,212 pints sold respectively, reports Breaking News.
Wine bearing the Houses of the Oireachtas label proved particularly popular, generating roughly 17 per cent of overall drinks revenue in 2025.
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In total, 4,851 glasses and 1,063 bottles were sold, in addition to two cases priced at €180 each, reports Breaking News.
Leinster House staff made use of a discounted rate to buy 50 bottles at €12 each over the 12 months. The standard price for a bottle of house wine is €16, while Rioja and Pinot Grigio retail at €28 per bottle.
Overall sales increased from €331,560 in 2024 to €444,655 last year. Drinks made up 70 per cent of revenue, with the remaining income coming from bar food, confectionery and snacks. Around one-third of total sales were recorded in the Members’ Bar, reports Breaking News.
December emerged as the busiest period, contributing approximately 14 per cent of annual takings. Of the €444,655 total, €40,010 was paid in cash during 2025, €347,221 was processed by card, and €57,424 was charged to members’ tabs.
In December, a single bottle of Moet & Chandon champagne was purchased in the Visitors’ Bar for €80, while prosecco remained popular throughout the year, with 12 bottles and 211 glasses sold, generating close to €1,900 in revenue, reports Breaking News.
The bars in Leinster House generally operate while the Dáil is in session and have, on occasion, remained open until 5am during significant legislative votes, enabling TDs to move between the chamber and the bar.
Records released under the Freedom of Information Act also reveal that 120 packets of mints were sold across the two bars in 2025, amounting to €211.80 in total, reports Breaking News.
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