Almost 2,000 pubs in Ireland have closed since 2005, according to a new report undertaken by Drinks Industry Group of Ireland.
The research shows that 108 bars shut in 2022, while there has been a 22.5% closure rate since 2005.
The group said rural businesses are most at risk of shutting their doors, while the counties that saw the biggest declines were Limerick (32%), Cork (29.9%), and Laois (29.9%).
Dublin saw the lowest rate of decline at 3.4%.
The group is calling on the Government to give more support to regional, small, and family run operations, and is also calling on excise duty to be decreased.
More than 450 pubs have closed since the Covid-19 pandemic, and Economist and Associate Professor at DCU Anthony Foley said that the knock-on effect is hitting rural communities both socially and economically.
"The cause and impact of these closures requires full consideration given the knock-on impact it has on the fabric of local communities as social outlets," she said.
"The loss of hundreds of these local businesses, employers, purchasers and community hubs has repercussions, particularly in more rural communities across the country," she stated.
"The Irish pub is a significant component of the tourism infrastructure and the tourism experience which is based on hospitality and service provision," she added.
"There are now 1,937 less locations for visitors to find and benefit from services such as food and entertainment."
Chair of DIGI and Communications and Corporate Affairs Director at Irish Distillers, Kathryn D'Arcy, said the majority of pubs detailed in the report were small family businesses.
She said decreasing the excise duty on alcohol would "make an immediate, positive difference to hundreds of small businesses in our sector struggling to stay open".
''Ireland’s excise on spirits is the third highest in Europe, our excise on wine is the highest in Europe and our excise on beer is the second highest in Europe.
"We have some of the highest excise duties in the world and the second highest in Europe overall, despite the industry being at the heart of Ireland’s tourism sector and its international reputation as a vibrant destination," she added.
The President of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI) said that action is needed to reverse the trend in pub closures as "no county is going unscathed".
Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime, John Clendennen said the VFI is also calling for excise duty to be reduced in the upcoming Budget to ensure pubs are commercially sustainable and feasible.
"Over a two-year period we would see 7.5% per annum reductions," he said.
"Ireland has one of the highest levels of excise duty in Europe. We have the highest on wine, the second highest on beer and the third highest on spirits."
Mr Clendennen said the VFI was "not advocating for heavy drinking ... but we need to be cognisant of the fact that in many towns and villages the pub is the heart and sole of communities".
