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Barman pulling a pint Shutterstock

More than 950 pubs closed down in Ireland over a five year period

Consumption of alcohol is down 14.1 per cent on 2007 levels, says drinks industry report.

THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC houses declined by 959 from 2007 to 2012, according to a report by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland. (DIGI)

As a result, DIGI is calling for a task force to be set up to address the decline of the local pub and independent off-licences.

The report published today finds that sales in pubs were down by one third since 2007. The result of these downward statistics is that employment in pubs was down 17 per cent from 2008 to 2012.

Drinking less

Per capita, Irish people are also consuming less alcohol, according to the figures, that state consumption is 14.1 per cent below 2007 levels.

The report revealed that despite significant pressure, the industry still provides over €2 billion in VAT and excise receipts and generates over €1 billion in exports annually.

The drinks sector also provides approximately 62,000 full or part time across different sectors of the economy with over €2 billion worth of inputs purchased by firms across manufacturing, retail and wholesale.

Downturn

However, DIGI says the industry is under increased pressure with bar sales down 33 per cent and an overall decline in retail sales of 12.5 per cent. From 2008 to 2011, there were 6000 job losses in the retail sector.

Chairman of DIGI, Peter O’Brien said the report comprehensively demonstrates the significant contribution the drinks industry makes to the economy but said that last year the government increased excise on alcohol which has added substantial hardship to an industry.

He is asking that the increase be reversed in the upcoming budget.

He said:

The facts are stark. In the manufacturing sector there has been a drop in employment levels from 6,146 in 2000 to 3,605 in 2011, across the 30 enterprises in drinks manufacturing.

In the on and off trade retailers there has been a substantial decline in the level of retail employees in recent years.

The report’s author, Anthony Foley said the report “clearly illustrates that the drinks industry is important for Ireland’s economy through employment and taxation as it works towards national recovery”.

Read: Youth charity calls on Arthur’s Day acts to donate fees to alcohol abuse groups>

Read: A pint in the Stag’s Head listed in top 50 ‘must eat experiences’>

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    Mute David Van-Standen
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    Apr 21st 2023, 7:38 AM

    Yeah! The hilarity that is American politics continues to deliver.

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    Mute Hannah Hannah
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    Apr 21st 2023, 9:01 AM

    Biden is one of the worst presidents in America history.

    Trump 2024.

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    Mute Numinous20111
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    Apr 21st 2023, 9:08 AM

    @Hannah Hannah: Biden will not be ranked near Trump’s current 4th worst position. However, I don’t believe he should run for re-election due to his age (please note the obvious implication about Trump as well). Biden’s administration has generally done an effective job (with some major and minor screw-ups and also some unexpected major successes and some expected major successes) and Biden has had the unfair advantage of following Trump, which distorts Biden’s public perception to the positive in almost every way possible. The problem is that the Democratic Party have done very little to establish another potential candidate in the public awareness.

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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Apr 21st 2023, 2:12 PM

    @Hannah Hannah: except for all the rest of them that is

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    Mute Bass Boss
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    Apr 21st 2023, 10:59 AM

    the free pass this guy gettin’..!

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    Mute GERARD KENNELLY
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    Apr 21st 2023, 9:50 AM

    is Joe busy may 6th ?

    why would the POTUS snub the coronation ?

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    Mute Donal O'Brien
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    Apr 21st 2023, 10:47 AM

    @GERARD KENNELLY: because the King of England isn’t his boss.

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    Mute Carm(Orange Vampire)
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    Apr 21st 2023, 12:41 PM

    @GERARD KENNELLY: Because no American President has ever attended a British coronation so why should he?

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    Mute Mise Anseo
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    Apr 21st 2023, 1:06 PM

    Unfortunately he has not acquitted himself well in the role. But at least he was 100% better than that other option the Republican party were offering. It was most definitely a case of “ANYONE is better than letting Trump back into power.”

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    Mute Carm(Orange Vampire)
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    Apr 21st 2023, 12:43 PM

    I love Joe Biden but I don’t think he should run again.

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    Mute Joan Grennan
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    Apr 22nd 2023, 12:05 PM

    BIden is absolutely not up to it at all and it is more than essential that the Democratic party find the courage to break it to him . He is quite simply past it and I say it as someone who is a senior citizen myself . On the other hand while he is lost in a nostalgic daze about his Irishness Ireland is the lucky beneficiary . Meantime Hillary Clinton.on Late Late was absolutely flying it , bright as a button , wonderfully articulate .She can’t have been too focused on Bill though ,who looked so utterly ecstatic with the beautiful head of Mrs Colm Eastwood on his shoulder as they hugged each other during all that meet and greet .Hillary ,was robbed before of the top job but would make a great candidate still .

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