The Vintners Federation of Ireland say the rising cost of living means more people are feeling the pinch and staying at home instead of spending money in local businesses.
Recent figures show that half of pub closures in the country last year were in Cork with 54 publicans shutting their doors for good.
The VFI are calling on the Government to reduce the cost of excise duty on alcohol and to keep the VAT rate at 9% instead of increasing it to 13.5% next week.
Speaking to RedFM News, Chair of the VFI in Cork and owner of the Castle Inn pub in the City, Michael O'Donovan says rural pubs are the worst affected as they don't have as much footfall as the city:
"The cost of doing business at the moment for pubs is extremely high. And we've The Perfect Storm at the moment with households having high energy costs, high grocery costs and high insurance costs, people's disposable incomes have really been hit. So, the spending is reduced. And that had a knock on effect for hospitality but the pub trade in particular, and I think since Covid people got used to socialising at home."
