The fact that people had more money in their pockets as a result of the boom and reductions in taxation meant that more money was available for purchasing houses. This resulted in inflation as builders increased prices when they realised that demand was greater than supply. The additional funds available to people also had an impact on the price of public houses. Young people throw their money across the counter in pubs and do not even bother to count the change. The price of drink in some pubs changes between 9.30 p.m. and 11 p.m. God be with the days when a publican in south Tipperary would have the same customers every night who would order the same three pints perhaps three nights each week. Customers would know the exact price of a pint and, if a publican increased his price by 2d, it would be the talk of the village and they would transfer their custom to another premises two miles away. Senators McDowell and Higgins will recall that when I reduced the VAT rate from 21% to 20%, following recommendations from the social partners, I said I thought it would have very little effect on the price of goods. I did not believe the reduction would be passed to consumers in a buoyant market with a high level of demand and I was right. I said I would keep it under review and increased it at the next opportunity.