According to a study of over 5,000 Irish households, the average cost of a Christmas dinner for a family of four has risen by nearly €35 since last year.

With inflation hitting at the worst time of year, it raises the question: Should the government step in to control prices, such as food, during the holiday season to ease the burden? While Ireland’s free market economy is driven by supply and demand, the government does regulate prices in areas like tobacco and alcohol.