Pub numbers fall 10 per cent in four years

AN average of 12 Kerry pubs are closing their doors every year, with the latest casualty being just this month with the closure of The Racecourse Bar in Listowel.

New figures released by the Revenue Commissioners show that in the past four years alone, a staggering 49 pubs have closed in Kerry. In 2007, Kerry boasted 509 fully licensed pubs, but that number dropped to 460 in 2011 — a fall of almost 10 per cent.

Head of the Vintners Association in Kerry, John O’sullivan, said he is not at all surprised by the figures, adding that a number of factors are contributing to the decline of the pub trade throughout the county.

Among them, he said, is the significant drop in the number of people now opting to drink at home rather than socialise in their local pub,

“If you go back 10 years ago, about 55 per cent of all alcohol consumption was done in the pub, but now that has dropped to 45 per cent,” he said.

He also blamed new drink driving legislation — including random breath testing and a lower drink driving limit — for the closures, saying their introduction has had a detrimental impact on the pub trade, particularly in rural areas.

Mr O’sullivan, who owns the Munster Bar in Tralee, also blames the smoking ban for a significant loss of trade, particularly among the female clientele, he said.

“A lot of women from about 35 years of age upwards see it as degrading and embarrassing to have to stand outside the door to smoke, so where there isn’t an adequate smoking area they opt to stay at home and enjoy their drink and smoke together,” he said.

Despite the worrying figures, however, Mr O’sullivan feels that there is a a way back, if business owners are determined enough.

“These are tough times, but I can see a way back if publicans are willing to go the extra mile. In the good times, a lot of publicans didn’t have to drive the business as much, but now you notice pubs putting on darts tournaments, quizzes and card games and this will all help,” he said. “I also believe that people are no longer splashing out on for foreign holidays, weekends away and meals out, and are going back to a more mundane way of life, which includes a drink in the local.”

The figures, released to The Irish Examiner this week, show 809 pubs have closed in Ireland since 2007, 341 of which are in Munster alone.