One quarter of Irish pubs have closed since 2005
As supporting members of the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI), Drinks Ireland welcomes the latest DIGI report authored by economist Anthony Foley, Associate Professor Emeritus at Dublin City University. The report reveals a severe 20-year decline in the number of public houses operating across Ireland, driven by high alcohol taxation, rising operational costs and changing consumer trends, underscoring the urgent need for government support.
The research shows that 2,205 pubs, representing over one in four venues, have closed their doors since 2005, reducing the total number of active pub licences to 6,412. An average of 110 pubs have stopped trading each year over the past two decades, with rural communities experiencing the most acute losses.
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Regional Impact: All 26 counties recorded decreases over the 20-year period, with rural counties such as Limerick (-37.2%), Offaly (-34.1%) and Cork (-32.7%) suffering the steepest drops in pub numbers.
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Urban Contrast: Dublin recorded the lowest overall decline at -1.1%, followed by Wicklow (-9.5%) and Meath (-11.4%), highlighting a sharp contrast between urban centres and rural regions.
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Future Outlook: Without intervention, economic projections suggest that between 600 and 1,000 additional pub closures will occur over the coming decade.
To safeguard remaining small, family-owned pubs and protect rural communities, DIGI is calling for an immediate ten per cent excise duty reduction in the upcoming Budget.
This latest report is part of our annual "Support Your Local" campaign, launched in conjunction with our fellow members of the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI), the Licensed Vintners Association, the Vintners Federation of Ireland, the Restaurants Association of Ireland, the National Off-Licence Association, and the Irish Hotels Federation, lobbying for a reduction in alcohol excise in Budget 2027.
