More than one in three Dublin pubs had a turnover of more than €1.25 million in 2003, according to a survey of the licensed premises, writes Colm Keena

The survey, while finding that many pubs around the State have very small turnovers, found that Dublin pubs grew significantly in turnover and size during the past four years.

Twelve per cent of the pubs in Dublin had a turnover of more than €2.5 million in 2003 and 2.9 per cent had a turnover of €4 million or more.

Just over 50 per cent of Dublin pubs have a retailing space of more than 2,000 sq ft while the equivalent figure for the rest of the State is 15.6 per cent.

The figures are contained in a survey published yesterday by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland, a group representing manufacturers, distributors and retailers of alcoholic beverages.

Speaking at the publication of the report, the group chairman, Mr Richard Dunne, said the survey showed that more than half the public houses in the State had turnovers of less than €200,000.

"This survey puts paid to the misconception that the licensed trade in Ireland is dominated by a small number of superpubs or by large pub chains."

He questioned the need for new licences to be issued. "There is a licence for every 335 people in Ireland and that's about three times the number per head of population in the UK."

However, he agreed that there was a marked contrast between Dublin and the rest of the State.

Of the approximately 8,100 pubs in the State, about 10 per cent are in Co Dublin, the group says. Mr Donal O'Keeffe, secretary to the group, said there were 700 to 1,000 dormant licences available, at a current cost of approximately €130,000 each. The barrier to entry to the Dublin pub scene was not licences but planning permission, he said.

Mr Dunne said selling alcohol was not like selling nails. "We are dealing with a product that actually changes personality." It had to be sold in a controlled and responsible way.

He said the rule barring under-18s from pubs after 9 pm, even if accompanied by adults, was having a "huge effect" on families on holiday in coastal towns around Ireland and would hit tourism. He added that parents should be allowed decide when it was appropriate for children to be on a licensed premises.