1,300 Irish pubs have shut down in the last five years

Posted on Monday, January 03, 2011 at 01:53 PM

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Pub licences in Ireland have decreased by 1,300 over the past five years in Ireland, amid claims by publicans’ groups that the cheap availability of alcohol is causing “death of the Irish pub”.

The decline in the pub trade has been most widespread in counties Cork, Dublin, Mayo, Kerry and Limerick, according to figures from the Revenue Commissioners.

The Vintners Federation if Ireland (VFI), which represents over 4,000 members outside of Dublin said that pubs in rural areas represent the majority of pub closures in recent years.

Garry Mellett, the president of the VFI says that a combination of below-cost selling by grocery stores, drink-driving laws and the smoking ban has led to a major decline in pub-trade throughout Ireland.

“The removal of restrictions on below-cost selling has really broken the back of the industry because they’re selling at prices that we can never compete with,” Mr Mellett told the Irish Times.

“When you combine this with stricter drink-driving regulations and the smoking ban, we’re making it increasingly difficult for people to socialise. The authorities seem intent on over-regulating everything,”

“It is no exaggeration to say the closure of rural pubs in particular is having a devastating effect on the fabric of life in rural Ireland,” said Mr Mellett.

“In many areas the pub functions as an important community focal point, and provides a great social hub for many people.

“Pub closures have inhibited social lives, and have disrupted the community spirit and life of many neighborhoods.”

The breakdown by county of the number of pub licences lost over a three-year period:
CORK 90
GALWAY 46
KERRY 46
MAYO 44
LIMERICK 42
DONEGAL 41
CLARE 36
DUBLIN 20

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kateomprint | Mar 11, 2011, 05:26 PM EST

Of course the pubs are closing. Any atmosphere that wss in the pubs is gone. If you are sitting talking to people next thing you look around and half of them are gone out to smoke. It is so boring in the Irish pubs at present

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LinLinisme | Mar 11, 2011, 09:37 AM EST

The same in America. Many bars and restaurants have closed because of this smoking ban. Many people have lost their jobs and business shutting down helps no one.

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wjcomerford | Jan 10, 2011, 02:59 AM EST

For more than 1000 years the masses of Ireland have had the pub as the center of their Universe but it only takes 10 years of Government interference to take the heart out of Ireland. The big lie is that smoking has no effect on the pubs and it is obvious that was a huge blow. I've been to pubs with no patrons inside while there are 120 people outside with the band in the rain. A total waste of a perfectly good building. It makes as much sense as the mess they have made of the economy.

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Liamkeyes | Jan 04, 2011, 10:59 AM EST

I think that water will find it's own level. Sports Clubs and social clubs will be able to sell alcohol cheaper than the pubs plus they will not have to pay the staff as much as the publicans do. Its just a cultural change. Nothing remains the same forever.

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