Pub bosses have called for a price cap on rocketing gas and electricity bills for the sector which is facing the "bleakest winter."
The Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI) also demanded subsidies for the industry to help publicans keep their doors open in coming weeks amid the crippling energy crisis.
The VFI, which represents 4,000 pubs outside the Greater Dublin area, said the government "needs to act now" if it wants to keep a viable hospitality sector.
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VFI Chief Executive Paul Clancy said: “There is widespread concern among publicans across the country about energy costs. Simply put, the sort of cost increases facing members are not sustainable given we are hearing reports of pubs where energy bills have shot up by 230% since last year.
“The Government must intervene with a meaningful package of supports in the upcoming Budget. Whether it’s a price cap or subsidies, the support must give comfort to small business owners who are facing the bleakest winter imaginable if those supports are not forthcoming. If the government wants a viable hospitality sector in place at the end of this crisis they need to help the sector now.”
Meanwhile one publican in Kildare called for incentives for the pub trade such as for installing solar panels on roofs.
Vivian Carroll of Judge Roy Beans in Newbridge said: "The industry is in crisis. We need supports put in place straight away with some creative thinking around grants for the likes of solar power."
He added: "The current situation is just not sustainable."
The latest crisis to hit the pub trade follows on from a stark report published last month showed a 21% decline in the number of Irish pubs since 2005.
The study on behalf of the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) said there were 1,829 less pubs in the country over the 16-year period, while 349 closed during Covid-19 pandemic.
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