High taxes and lifestyle changes blamed for more than 1,800 pubs closing since 2005

The pandemic's impact on the sector accelerated the closures in many areas, as 4.9% of pubs closed between 2019 and 2021, some 349 premises nationwide. File photo: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

More than one-in-five of Ireland's pubs has closed its doors since 2005, with industry representatives blaming high taxes, poor public transport links, and lifestyle changes as key factors.

There are now 1,829 fewer pubs in the country since 2005, a new report from the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI). A total of 6,788 pubs were still operating at the end of 2021, down from a height of 8,617 in 2005, with every county witnessing a significant decline.