More than 1,500 pubs, clubs, hotels and restaurants have shut their doors in the past five years, according to a new report by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland.
The report, published today, points to falling employment and revenues in the industry, alongside rising costs.
The survey of licensed premises was carried out by Dublin City University Business School. The Drinks Industry Group of Ireland, which commissioned the report, says the obvious decline in the industry began before 2004, when the last industry-wide survey was conducted.
Since that time, four-fifths of licensed premises surveyed say they have undertaken measures to improve business. However, today's report reveals that the decline has accelerated in the past 18 months.
1,500 closures of licensed premises were recorded over the past five years. Identifying the causes, the report points to a combination of factors including tougher drink-driving laws and the smoking ban.
Pubs and other licensed premises outside Dublin face the most uncertain future, with one in three rural pubs predicting that they will struggle to survive.
Over half of those surveyed said that they had started advertising for custom, with many also now providing entertainment.
