Death of an Irish institution? New Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll reveals how few go to the pub every week

Irish Independent

02-06-2025

While the local watering hole was once regarded as an 'Irish institution', the study found only 9pc of people said they go to the pub once a week, 7pc went every fortnight and 19pc said they went just once a month.
The cost of alcohol in bars is believed to be one reason why many don't pull up a bar stool any more.
Meanwhile, Gen Z – those 28 and under – are less likely to drink alcohol at all, with many prioritising hobbies, health and wellness.
Michael Kilcoyne, chair of the Consumers' Association of Ireland, said the fact that the Irish pub was no longer popular, is 'worrying from a community and societal aspect'.
'Pubs down the country have been affected badly due to a lack of transport,' Mr Kilcoyne said.
'And in general, the price of alcohol in pubs is too high for a lot of people struggling with high rent and mortgages.
'Others are trying to save for a mortgage and many are living in their parents' box rooms, just unable to afford a night out at the pub.
'This means pub staff will lose their jobs and also impacts the coming together of people as a community in Ireland.
'The pub is where friends, family and colleagues always met and what have we got if we're not meeting up to socialise? A lack of community, isolation, loneliness and a lack of community spirit.
'That's really a very bad thing and it seems this Government has switched off to the reality of what people are going through in Ireland today.
'People just don't have the money to go to the pub to socialise or even go on holiday due to the cost of living and ­wages not being high enough to meet it.'
The survey found 40pc of people can't afford to take a summer holiday this year while 55pc said they could and 5pc were unsure.
Pub landlords contacted by the Irish Independent weren't available to talk or didn't wish to comment on the issue.
But the CEO of the Vintner's Federation of Ireland, Pat Crotty, a former publican, told RTÉ: 'It's very difficult. The net position for the publican outside of an urban area is that he's dying slowly.'
He added: 'Even for pubs relying on tourists, the Central ­Statistics Office (CSO) has shown tourist numbers are down at a time when they should be up.'
Mr Crotty said publicans are in a difficult situation with regards to legal and financial obligations, and very few can continue in the position they are in.