Independent brewers in Northern Ireland have spoken out about “severe market restrictions” which stop them selling in their home country. 

According to The Society for Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA), 99% of beer sold in Northern Ireland is from global brands, leaving the 17 independent brewers little choice but to export their product. 

The Society said that the issue was the 124-year-old licensing system, under which the Surrender Principle means that an existing alcohol licence must be surrendered before another is granted. 

As an illustration of the difficulty, a collection of independent brewers in Northern Ireland flew their beers to Westminster on Wednesday 2 September to raise awareness that it’s easier to have their beers served in Parliament than in their home market. 

By comparison, in Britain, small breweries can apply for a premises licence, allowing them to sell to their consumers directly via community taprooms. Northern Irish breweries, on the other hand, are not afforded the same luxury, said SIBA. 

It continued that new SIBA figures showed that Northern Ireland had the highest rate of brewery closures across the whole of the UK, with five having closed in the first six months of 2026. 

William Mayne, MD of Bullhouse Brewery, based in Belfast, said: “It’s often easier for a beer drinker to get their hands on a Northern Irish beer in London or Manchester than it is in Belfast. 

“Consumers are losing out, local pubs can’t stock local products, and small producers are being pushed to the brink. While developers get free licenses for hotels, local manufacturers are locked out. We need real reform of the licensing laws to create a level playing field and support local manufacturing.”