'People now drink at home and tailor their nights out to a special occasions'

PATTERNS Local publicans cite changing consumer habits in wake of report showing how 2,000 pubs have closed across Ireland in last 15 years

Almost 2000 pubs have closed across the country in the last 15 years according to a new report from the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI).

Rural pubs in particular have suffered, over the last decade and a half but all pubs are experiencing difficulties with increased overheads and a decline in the numbers going out to pubs.

"More people are drinking at home and tailoring their nights out to special occasions," says Navan publican, Padraig Fitzsimons. "We are lucky in that we are in a very vibrant town, but drinking patterns are changing.

"People now drink at home and tailor their nights out to a special occasions.

"When I was growing up, there were 12 nightclubs in the county, now there is only one - this shows how much habits have changed. People don't 'go dancing' anymore, unless it is a wedding, 21st or other big party." He pointed out that in Navan, three pubs had closed their doors since Covid.

"A lot of pubs are closing now on Mondays and Tuesday and most aren't opening until about 5pm. The days of seven nights a week and all day opening seem to gone for a lot of pubs."

Mr Fitzsimons said that another factor in the decline in pubs is the lifestyle.

"There was a time when the children of the publican were expected to take it over from their parents. Now they are well educated and the late nights don't appeal to them and they have more options."

He said pubs are still safe places to go. "Most pubs are well run and drinking-related violence doesn't happen because of pubs, it is when people are drinking elsewhere."

According to the DIGI figures nine Meath pubs have closed since 2005, with three of those closing last year, however, many publicans and customers believe the figure for the county is much higher.

The report shows a continuing decline in the number of pubs across Ireland, with the rate of decline accelerating since Covid-19.

The data shows an additional 108 pubs closed in 2022 and over 450 pubs nationally have closed in the period since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic with the greatest decreases seen in more rural parts of the country compared with Dublin.

Deputy Peadar Tóibin described the report as shocking. "The Irish pub has been the heart of the community for generations.

Whether we like it or not pub culture is part of who we are. It has been a location of socialising, music, craic and community spirit. "It obviously offers a big tourist draw in many areas ".

"Ireland is becoming a less social place and this is not a healthy outcome for people's mental health and for communities.

Many many people are living more isolated lives often behind a screen at home than among their peers in their community. Many older people in rural areas are not meeting people from one week to the next. Drinking is happening increasingly at home in a less social setting where binge drinking is hidden. If Covid taught us anything is that human contact is a good thing”.

Deputy Tóibin said the collapse of the Irish pub was also affecting the economy of small towns and villages.

"Excise on alcohol in Ireland is among the highest in Europe. Coupled with high energy prices, a cost of living crisis and a government that doesn’t understand rural communities especially, this report demonstrates the need to address the burdens of small, often family run establishments which not only cater to locals but are an important part of our tourism offering”.