Pub sector ‘in meltdown’ as sales fall 14%

THE pub sector is “in meltdown” with sales plunging by more than 14% this year as consumers switch to drinking at home, the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) has claimed.

However, off-licence sales have soared by 15%. Pubs are also being hit by consumers drinking less and switching to better value draught beer and away from spirits.

Ten years ago, people were drinking an average of 14.4 litres of pure alcohol annually, but this has dropped to about 11.2 litres today.