Half of the pubs that closed in the country in 2022 were in Cork.
Figures from the Drinks Industry in Cork show that 54 pubs closed across the county last year, while 108 pubs closed nationally.
The Vintners Federation of Ireland say that pubs in rural parts of Cork are the worst affected and once they close their doors there's no chance of them reopening.
The closures are due to the constant rising cost of living, the cost of excise duty on alcohol and people choosing to stay home after the Covid-19 pandemic according to the VFI.
From next week the government will increase the 9 percent VAT rate for hospitality to 13.5% meaning customers will start to feel the pinch even more.
Speaking to RedFM News, Chair of the VFI in Cork and owner of the Castle Inn pub in the City, Michael O'Donovan says the Government need to keep the current VAT rate of 9 percent and cut the cost of excise duty:
"One of the things that the government can do to help pubs and maybe make us more attractive for people to come in is to cut the excise on alcohol cause we're second highest in Europe across the range of alcohol excise duty. So we're asking the Government to cut it by 7.5% this year and 7.5% next year and give us a fighting chance to survive."
