2,100 pubs closed over the last 20 years

There were 12 pubs in the village, where I grew up, in my father's time. There were 6 in my time. There are 3 now.

The number of people who don't drink (they haven't done so in last 12 months) seems to be increasing every year. Think it's 27% now. The Zero products are working well.

I think it's just a combination of a lot of factors that's seeing the demise of the drink only pub. People are in constant contact with each other via the socials. Maybe they just want a detox from each other and see no value in going for pints anymore. It seems to be more of 'an occasions' venture to the pub these days.
 
Steven Barrett said:
I was away with my 17 year old son at the weekend. He doesn't drink. Some of his mates drink a bit, others don't drink at all. There is no where for them to go and hang out. He and his friends aren't the only ones, Ireland doesn't have anywhere for young people to go besides the pub...a place they don't really want to be
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interesting when you go on holidays to Europe, last year in France I saw groups of teenagers happily going into a restaurant and getting something to eat, on their own, with no adults. That culture does no occur here to the same degree.
 
GSheehy said:
The Zero products are working well.
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That's where the drinks industry generally, the retailers and manufacturers, is seeing growth.

But regarding the declining number of pubs, a lot of the licences and drinkers that were used by pubs have now maybe gone to GAA clubs. Once upon a time in rural areas, the only sporting clubs that had showers, changing rooms, committee rooms and bars were the rugby, tennis, and hockey clubs. Fast backwards to the end of my rugby-playing career, for home matches, we used the facilities of the GAA club, as did the boxing club.

I wonder how does the the number of overall licences compare to the number licensed outlets, pubs and clubs, who strictly speaking only sell booze to members?

Why don't the feckless youngsters mentioned earlier in the thread with nothing to do and nowhere to do it in, pull on a pair of togs a jersey and a pair of boots? Just a thought.
 
GSheehy said:
People are in constant contact with each other via the socials. Maybe they just want a detox from each other and see no value in going for pints anymore.
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That's another issue. People don't go out and meet each other. I used to go out at the weekends, meet friends and girls. Now it's online and a small percentage of people on dating apps are getting results while others just give up. With people not wanting to drink pints and wfh, the opportunity for young people to find a mate is diminished.
 
Peanuts20 said:
interesting when you go on holidays to Europe, last year in France I saw groups of teenagers happily going into a restaurant and getting something to eat, on their own, with no adults.
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100%. I was in Pamplona a few weeks ago and there were loads of young people sitting in the bars/ restaurants around the square having food and a drink. Of course, a lot of these towns have a central square where people can congregate and the weather.
 
GSheehy said:
think it's just a combination of a lot of factors that's seeing the demise of the drink only pub. People are in constant contact with each other via the socials. Maybe they just want a detox from each other and see no value in going for pints anymore. It seems to be more of 'an occasions' venture to the pub these days
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I wouldn't regarding social media stuff as a replacement for meeting people for real in a pub. Yes it is happening less but I think people appreciate alot more now because it takes relatively more effort and you have to come out of your comfort zone a bit in comparison to posting on social media. Also alot of social media is fake and exaggerated, very hard to be fake in real life though
 
We spent a few nights in a small city in Germany and noticed a lot of young people sitting outside bars/restaurants playing board games and cards (while having snacks and/or a drink).
 
Maybe in Ireland we still haven't found that relationship with alcohol like is more commonplace "on the continent"... we either want to drink too much too quickly, or as is increasingly the case, just not drink at all. I fell out of the habit of drinking alcohol even before covid, it's another reason why being in a pub is not appealing to me, not to mention the sky high prices.
 
mathepac said:
But regarding the declining number of pubs, a lot of the licences and drinkers that were used by pubs have now maybe gone to GAA clubs. Once upon a time in rural areas, the only sporting clubs that had showers, changing rooms, committee rooms and bars were the rugby, tennis, and hockey clubs. Fast backwards to the end of my rugby-playing career, for home matches, we used the facilities of the GAA club, as did the boxing club.
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Does a GAA club require the transfer of a licence from a pub that closes down?

I know that a new supermarket with an off-licence requires a transfer of a licence from a former pub.
 
peemac said:
A 10% reduction on duty would represent about 7c incl vat on a shot of spirits and about 6.5c on a pint of beer.

Do pubs really think this will make a difference?
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The VFI / LVA documents always ignore the elephant in the room: the costs charged by the dominant brewers Diageo and Heineken.

Excise duty on beer has been flat for years, but Diageo have increased costs by four or five times since the end of COVID.

Yet the VFI / LVA never mention that, and instead appeal for cuts to excise duty.
 
I still go to pubs but I am very selective as the Dublin pubs are just simply greedy now. I vote with my feet and support any pub I see making an effort to entice people in. I can walk 5 minute from my gaff and get a pint of guinness for €5.50 but if I walk the other direction it will cost me €6.90 and will go up later in the night (at weekends).
In the past, a publican owned and ran the pub - remember the term 'going concern' which meant something. Unfortunately, we now have shareholders/investors who put up the the millions to buy them and want a stake every year on their money - same as investing in property etc. They also want to command a salary as CEO while there.
 
I think there has been a major shift in Irish socialising culture over the years.
I can remember our local pubs were jammed at the weekends until closing. I don't go to pubs that often (never have) but my 20-something sons tell me that the pubs are full at 6-7pm and almost emptied by 8pm - on a Friday.

Cost is definately a factor but seems like there are more alternatives to pubs than say, 20 years ago. Unfortunately many pubs haven't changed with the times and pretend its 1990.

Another factor - Sell to a developer - At least 2 local pubs I know have sold up and got demolished to be replaced by luxury apartments.
 
Protocol said:
The VFI / LVA documents always ignore the elephant in the room: the costs charged by the dominant brewers Diageo and Heineken.
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More than that, the blandness of and lack of choice in pub beers is utterly depressing.

Most pubs think it's beneath them to offer a single draught craft beer let alone the cask beers that make the better English pubs special and distinctive.
 
Daughter (20) goes for drinks in friends houses, eventually hosting herself before it resets and goes around again.

They will eat and drink until about 11 and then head into town to whichever Club is doing a student deal.

Her friends and indeed herself are not short of cash but are quite price sensitive and thrifty.

They rarely go out for drinks in a pub as considered poor value for money.
 
Another thing that I found deeply annoying, over the years with kids ordering coke only to get this tiny bottle that you'd typically see for a single mixer for a spirit.

Two gulps later and they're looking for another bottle.

Put me off pubs to be honest and just went to restaurants instead where they give a decent size bottle.
 
Steven Barrett said:
Nightclubs have died a death. Report in The Irish Times this morning that the average European nightclub closes at 6am. In Ireland, it's 2:30am. Why? Because the Irish see 6am close as a place where people can go boozing until the morning and not a place to dance all night.
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Respectfully, if people are dancing until 6am in the morning they are taking something. It may not be alcohol, but there is definitely a stimulant in there.
 
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