More than two thousand pubs have closed in Ireland since 2005 with Waterford seeing sixty-six pub closures over the past two decades - a decrease of 25.4%.
Fellow Munster counties Limerick, Cork and Tipperary placed among the top five with all losing more than 30% per cent. They were joined by Roscommon and Laois.
24% have closed across the country in this time frame.
This is according to the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI).
Dublin is to be found at the other end with just 3% closing since 2005. Meath, Wicklow, Kildare and Carlow rounded out the top five.
The findings provided are for pubs only and do not include other licensed premises such as hotels.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, Tony Foley, Economist and Associate Professor Emeritus at DCU has said the decline being shown is due to a number of factors.
“Consumption of alcohol has notably decreased, how we socialise is changing, the types of drinks we consume are changing, particularly the rise of low-alcohol and alcohol-free products,”
“We are also seeing that with many pubs, which are often small, family-run businesses, sustaining business is becoming harder and harder. Fostering commercial sustainability is crucial to safeguarding rural Irish pubs".
Drinks Industry Group Ireland chair, Kathryn D’Arcy has said this development mirrors what the sector has been experiencing in recent times.
“Pubs, restaurants, and hotels employ over 207,000 people which is 8.3pc of all employees in the country. These people and the businesses they work for are part of the economic and social fabric of their communities. Running such businesses in a climate where the cost of doing business is squeezing more and more is difficult”.
Kathryn D'Arcy says that costs associated with running a pub are a huge challenge.
“Ireland’s excise on spirits and beer is the third highest in Europe, while our excise on wine is the second highest in Europe. We have some of the highest excise duties in the world and the second highest in Europe overall."
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