A new report from the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) shows a continuing drop in the number of pubs in Ireland, with 2,054 fewer pubs today than there were in 2005.
The report, 'Support Growth: A Sustainable Future for Ireland’s Drinks and Hospitality Sector', including economic analysis from Economist and Associate Professor Emeritus at DCU, Anthony Foley, shows that an average of 114 pubs have closed annually over the past 18 years.
The number of closures has risen in the last five years to 144 annual closures.
'Societal Change'
"The continuing decline is taking place against a backdrop of societal change and cost of business strains," said Professor Tony Foley.
"Consumption of alcohol has notably decreased, how we socialise is changing, the types of drinks we consume are changing, particularly the rise of low-alcohol and alcohol-free products.
“We are also seeing that with many pubs, which are often small, family-run businesses, sustaining business is becoming harder and harder."
Pub Closures
All 26 counties have experienced a decline in pub numbers since 2005.
Counties Limerick (35.6%), Roscommon (31.9%), Cork (31.4%), Tipperary (31.2%) and Laois (30.6%) have seen the highest declines, each exceeding the national closure average of 24%.
The lowest number of pub closures over the period came in Dublin which has seen a decline of 3% in pub numbers.
'Struggling To Stay Open'
"We are calling on government to deliver a reduction in Ireland’s extremely high excise duties which would make an immediate, positive difference to the hundreds of small businesses in our sector struggling to stay open," said Kathryn D’Arcy, DIGI Chair and Communications and Corporate Affairs Director at Irish Distillers.
"We have costed, considered plans on how to do this and welcome engaging with government and others on our proposals.”
